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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Judicial Conference Board of Directors is asking for public feedback on proposed amendments to Indiana’s Pretrial Services Rules.
Proposed changes to the rules would update pretrial staff training requirements to include evidence-based practices and require policy and procedure in response to critical incidents.
Specifically, a new definition for “critical incident” would be included under the proposed changes, defined as “an incident that has the potential to have a serious impact on a pretrial services agency, pretrial services staff, pretrial services funding or generate adverse publicity.”
The policy and procedure for responding to critical incidents would include circumstances that trigger the critical response team, members of that response team, designation of a spokesperson for the team and information considered by the response team, among other requirements.
Coordinators and pretrial service officers would also be required to obtain at least 12 hours of continuing education each calendar year following their individual dates of hire. At least six hours from that requirement must include information on evidence-based practices and all continuing education hours must be approved by the pretrial services supervising judge.
Additionally, a pretrial services entity would need to develop and observe written policy and procedure that ensures the confidentiality and security of pretrial service records in accordance with all applicable law, including the Rules on Access to Court Records.
The window for submitting public comment will remain open until noon on Oct. 19.
Comments can be submitted online or mailed to Diane Mains, Indiana Office of Court Services, 251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 800, Indianapolis 46204.
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