Language Translation
  Close Menu

Advisory Board

Probation Officers Advisory Board

The Probation Officers Advisory Board consists of Indiana probation officers elected from 17 districts, as well as 6 probation officers appointed by the Chief Justice of Indiana. The Advisory Board meets quarterly and works on issues relevant to improving probation services. In particular, the Advisory Board has worked to modernize Indiana’s risk and needs assessment instruments, published a Best Practices Guide, and has worked to integrate evidence-based practices into educational programs. In addition, the Probation Officers Advisory Board annually awards “The Order of Augustus” to an outstanding Indiana probation officer.

District 1 - Stacy LaPatra
Lake County Probation - Adult

District 3 - Kristin Fee
St. Joseph County Probation -  Adult

District 5 - Kara Shively
Kosciusko County Probation

District 7 - Misti Biggs-Reader
Hamilton County Probation

District 9 - Hannah Cochran
Montgomery County Probation

District 11 - Stephanie Buttz
Marion County Probation

District 13 - Anthony Heber
Vigo County Probation

District 15 - Leslie Jackson
Vanderburgh County Probation

District 17 - Galadriel Ballard
Clark County Probation

District 2 - Shantell Dingman
LaPorte County Probation

District 4 - Joseph Kearby
Allen County Probation

District 6 - Matthew Risk
Clinton County Probation

District 8 - VACANT

District 10 - Laurisa Nunn
Marion County Probation

District 12 - VACANT

District 14 - Jennifer Whipker-Davis
Bartholomew County Probation

District 16 - Melanie Kuntz
Washington County Probation

At Large Board Members

Vacant

Vacant

Lindsey Villalpando, POPAI Liaison
Montgomery County Probation

Kory George, CISC Liaison
Wayne County Probation

Shannon Chambers, Chair
Johnson County Probation

Ryan Hull
DeKalb County Probation

Ashley Stevens
Rush County Probation

Shannon Schmaltz
Ripley County Probation


The Order of Augustus

The Order of Augustus is an honorary award presented annually by the Probation Officers Advisory Board of the Judicial Conference of Indiana to those persons in the profession of probation whose commitment and personal dedication have exemplified the ideals and philosophy of John Augustus, the undisputed “Father of Probation.” The creed of John Augustus was “To raise the fallen, reform the criminal, and so far as my humble abilities would allow, to transform the abode of suffering and misery to the home of happiness.”

1993-Dr. Valorous "Val" B. Clear
Madison County Court Services

1995-Neil Hannon
Porter County Probation

1997-Thomas N. Fredrick
St. Joseph County Juvenile

1999-Leonard Simpson
Marion Superior Court Probation

2001-R. Todd McCormack
Hendricks Superior Court

2004-Linda Brady
Monroe County Probation

2006-Eric Zimmerman
Allen County Adult Probation

2008-Wayne Addison
Hancock County Probation

2010-Donald J. Travis
Howard County Probation

2012-Robert Chamness
Wayne County Probation

2014-Christina Ball
Marion County Probation

2016-Lisa Brueggeman
Marion County Probation

2018-Carole Kinder
Morgan County Probation

2020-Stacey Beam
Noble County Probation

2022-Laura Rood
Howard County Probation

2024-Kevin Elkins
Lake County Juvenile Probation

1994-Kenneth E. Watson
Allen County Court Services

1996-Virgil L. Seay
Floyd County Probation

1998-K. Allan Henson
Vanderburgh Circuit Court

2000-Denise Z. Ware
Clark Circuit Probation

2002-Amber Stirrup-Leonard
Lawrence County Probation

2005-Suzanne Miller
Johnson County Juvenile Probation

2007-Susan Allen
Monroe County Probation

2009-Stephen T. Eyrick
LaPorte Superior #4 Probation

2011-Joe S. Hooker
Tippecanoe County Probation

2013-Susan Lightfoot
Henry County Probation

2015-John Thorstad
Starke County Probation

2017-Mary Jane Walsworth
Marshall County Probation

2019-Cindy McCoy
Grant County Probation

2021-Brad Barnes
Bartholomew County Probation

2023-Troy Hatfield
Monroe County Probation

 Top FAQs