Community Corrections

About Us

VISION STATEMENT

To be a model of evidence-based practices, envisioning a safe and vibrant community where every individual thrives, achieves lasting change, stability, and success.

Evidence-Based Practices

At Elkhart County Community Corrections, we are dedicated to providing evidence-based alternative sentencing and supervision that promotes positive life changes and enhances community safety. To better assist our participants and reduce recidivism, our entire team utilizes Core Correctional Practices (CCP). By combining these targeted communication and reinforcement strategies with the interactive Carey Guides / Bits curriculum, we deliver individualized, skill-building interventions designed to support sustainable behavior changes and successful community reintegration.

Our Evidence-Based Approach

• Core Correctional Practices (CCP): Our staff is trained in evidence-based interaction skills. This approach focuses on building a professional yet empathetic alliance with our participants, actively modeling pro-social behaviors, and using targeted, effective reinforcement to encourage compliance, personal growth, and long-term community safety.
• Carey Guides / Bits: Our Case Management team utilizes this nationally recognized skill-building curriculum to assist participants in developing actionable life and coping skills. The Guides provide interactive tools and worksheets to help individuals address specific criminogenic needs—such as managing emotions, overcoming substance use barriers, and navigating problem-solving in day-to-day life—creating a safer environment for Elkhart County.

Levels of Supervision

Work Release

The Work Release Program is a residential program that provides an alternative to incarceration. We bring offenders out of the jail system, provide an alternative placement, and try to help make them productive members of society. By using a controlled environment we can minimize the risk to society, thus allowing individuals to work and continue with school, treatment programs and cognitive-behavioral programs while at work release. It is our goal to use Evidence-Based Practices to properly manage and reinstate our clientele into society while maintaining public safety. All qualifying felony offenders have an Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) conducted, a case plan is developed and the offenders must comply and complete the recommendation of the case plan/court order.

Electronic Monitoring

The Home Detention Program is an electronic monitoring program that provides an alternative to incarceration. We bring offenders out of the jail system, reunite them with their families, and try to help make them productive members of society. By using electronic technology we can minimize the risk to society, thus allowing individuals to work and continue with school, treatment programs, and cognitive-behavioral programs while in their home. It is our goal to use Evidence-Based Practices to properly manage and reinstate our clientele into society while maintaining public safety. All qualifying felony offenders have an Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) conducted, a case plan is developed and the offenders must comply and complete the recommendation of the case plan/court order.

Day Reporting

The program is designed to serve offenders who are considered low risk but are in need of support, guidance, and direction in everyday occurrences in life while completing their executed sentence by the court. The program teaches them to be accountable for their own actions and behavior and to offer a variety of support groups as needed. Offenders at initial sign-on are given an Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) assessment and a case plan may be developed.

Community Oriented Work Program (COWP)

Community Work Crew is the least restrictive program used by the courts. COWP partners with various county departments and local nonprofit agencies. Workers are sent to various sites requested by different organizations within the community. The work includes a wide range of services that includes: picking up trash along the roadsides, helping set up and tear down for nonprofit organization functions, and providing seasonal maintenance of property, including mowing, picking up after storm damage, and weed eating.

Community Transition Program (CTP)

The Community Transition Program is a joint effort between the Department of Corrections and County Courts. Providing an opportunity for offenders who meet the requirements to transition back to their communities prior to their scheduled release date from the Indiana Department of Correction. Such an opportunity allows the client to return to work, school, physical, and mental health services within their community, while still being monitored and supervised on a daily basis.

Eligibility Criteria

If all of the above criteria is met or believed to be met, the following needs to be completed to be considered for placement:

1. Must be a legal citizen of the United States of America or they can provide proper documentation that they are allowed to be in the U.S. (Proper documentation includes, but not limited to: Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Birth Certificates, a secured driver’s license, Passport, and military ID.
2. Must have no other criminal charges pending
3. Must be 18 years of age or over.

If all of the above criteria is met or believed to be met, the following needs to be completed to be considered for placement:

1. The referring entity must submit a court order or a completed referral form to ECCC.

• 1. Incarcerated defendant: Once the referral is received, Elkhart County Community Corrections will schedule an assessment appointment with the defendant at the Elkhart County Jail.
• 2. Non-Incarcerated defendant: If the defendant is not incarcerated it will be the defendant’s responsibility to contact Elkhart County Community Corrections to schedule an assessment appointment.

2. The referring entity must provide the defendant an application upon the time of referral.

• 1. The defendant must submit an application to ECCC within 48 hours of receipt of the application. 

Programs and Treatment

The following are educational, substance related and evidence base cognitive based behavioral programs that are offended at ECCC:

• The Courage to Change
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)—Domestic Violence
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)—Anger Management
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)—Trauma
• Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions - Substance Use Adult (CBI-SUA)
• Intensive Outpatient Programming
• Seeking Safety
• Jail Ministries

Eligibility Documents

Online Payments

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