Ripley County Superior Court Judge announces reelection bid

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – Ripley County Superior Court Judge Jeff Sharp has announced his bid for reelection. 

The lifelong Ripley County resident lives on his family’s fifth generation farm with his wife, Amy. They have three children that are aged 20, 18, and 7.  Sharp has also been a volunteer coach of numerous high school and youth sports teams for the past 20 years. 

Sharp has served as Superior Court Judge for the past decade and has presided over trials ranging from low level misdemeanors to serious offenses such as burglary and murder. 

“In my tenure as Judge, I have overseen the implementation of many programs to benefit the Community. For example, the Community Corrections Program which consists of electronic monitoring, sober link (a portable device offenders must use to track alcohol use), day/weekly reporting, increased home visits and drug screening, along with community service requirements,” Sharp said. 

“These programs have improved the safety of the community by providing increased supervision and accountability of offenders. Meanwhile they simultaneously increase services to offenders to prevent repeat criminal activity and have ultimately saved taxpayer dollars. During my tenure, new criminal filings have decreased year over year,” he added.

He and Judge Ryan King has also overseen the RCATS program which is a joint venture with schools to help juveniles find an alternative to suspension.

“In the past, when a student misbehaved and was suspended, he or she went home and basically got a vacation from school. Through the RCATS program, a suspended student must report to the RCATS program and continue to work on their studies with a licensed teacher and perform community service.  This requires the juvenile to do something productive while serving their punishment,” he said. 

Sharp added that he also helped create the Court Alcohol and Drug Services Program in collaboration with Margaret Mary Health. The drug rehabilitation program allows experts to deal with treatment while the court ensures enforcement.

“I firmly believe that it is vital for a Judge to remain an independent individual and administer justice in a fair and efficient manner.  A good Judge uses common sense that reflects the individuals she or he serves. Over my 10 years I have erased a backlog of cases that were pending when I took over making the Court as efficient as possible all while reducing the number of staff and the budget of the Superior Court.” 

Sharp is a 1996 graduate of Milan High School and is a member of the Indiana Judges Association, the Vice President of the Ripley County Community Corrections Board of Directors. a member of the Lions Club and St. Paul Lutheran Church.  

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