Indiana Judicial Center > Committees > Problem Solving Courts Problem Solving Courts

Purpose

To encourage the broad integration of the problem-solving philosophy into the administration of justice to improve court processes and outcomes while preserving the rule of law.

To encourage judges to take a proactive role, using a non-adversarial, coordinated strategy to problem-solving while creating an environment where participants are encouraged to take responsibility for change.

Statement of Principles

  • The committee’s mission is dedicated to assisting courts in developing new techniques to improve outcomes. Our purpose is to provide a support system for all problem-solving courts, both criminal and civil, in which the following principles are fulfilled:
  • To encourage the broad integration of problem-solving philosophies and new initiatives into the administration of justice in Indiana to improve court processes and outcomes while preserving the rule of law.
  • To identify ways to incorporate problem-solving theories into mainstream courts.
  • To encourage judges to take a proactive role, on and off the bench, using a team-based non-adversarial approach to address the underlying problems of defendants, encouraging them to make positive changes in their lives while holding them accountable for their decisions.
  • To utilize the authority of the bench to positively affect a defendant’s conduct.
  • To assist participants in developing skills that will allow them to live within community standards and be personally successful.
  • To identify ways the participant can develop further responsibility and competency through education, counseling, employment, and other programs available in the community.
  • To promote and encourage problem-solving techniques to gain favorable outcomes within the court system.
  • To promote within each court the support system to collect and evaluate data to show successes.
  • To develop a catalog of existing and potential problem-solving initiatives.

Members

Mag. Craig J. Bobay
Allen Circuit Court
Fort Wayne

Mr. William C. Cunningham
Grant County

Hon. Jonathon A. Dartt
Spencer Circuit Court
Rockport

Hon. Mary Harper
Porter Circuit Court
Valparaiso

Ms. Sheila Hudson
Allen County

Hon. Jerry F. Jacobi
Clark Circuit Court #2
Jeffersonville

Hon. Julia M. Jent
Porter Superior Court #3
Portage

Hon. Jane Woodward Miller
St. Joseph Superior Court
South Bend

Hon. Chris D. Monroe
Senior Judge
Columbus

Hon. Brett J. Niemeier
Vanderburgh Superior Court
Evansville

Hon. Loretta H. Rush
Indiana Supreme Court
Indianapolis

Hon. Jose D. Salinas
Marion Superior Court
Indianapolis

Hon. John F. Surbeck, Chair
Allen Superior Court
Fort Wayne

Hon. Jeffrey D. Todd
Grant Superior Court #1
Marion

Mr. Donald J. Travis
Howard County

Hon. Wayne S. Trockman
Vanderburgh Superior Court
Evansville

Hon. Salvador Vasquez
Lake Superior Court, Criminal Div. #1
Crown Point

Staff Contact(s)

Indiana Judicial Center
30 S. Meridian St., Ste 900
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 232-1313
Fax: (317) 233-3367

Court Services Division staff contact information

Visit the Indiana Problem Solving Courts website