Spring 2026 Issue
Cover Story
Where Justice & Behavioral Health Meet: Committee Releases Inaugural Report & Recommendations
By Brittany Kelly, State Court Behavioral Health Administrator | Office of Judicial Administration State courts across the country have increasingly recognized that behavioral health challenges—mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions—are major drivers of court involvement. Recognizing the need for a coordinated, court-led approach, in July 2022, CCJ and COSCA adopted RESOLUTION 1: In…
Features
2026 Legislative Update
By Mindy Pickett, Staff Attorney • Office of Court Services The following are the top changes of interest for judicial officers. Unless otherwise noted, the effective date for these bills is July 1, 2026. For summaries of all new relevant laws, please see the Legislative Update, legislativeupdate.courts.in.gov. Subscribe using the “Subscribe” button at the bottom…
Civic Health Index reveals successes and challenges for Hoosiers’ civic engagement
By Cathrin Verano, Special Collections Development Librarian • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach The 2025 Indiana Civic Health Index, released on January 21, 2026, examines Hoosiers’ election participation, their community involvement, and the successes of the state’s civic education initiatives. It draws on data from the most recent U.S. Census and the 2024 presidential…
Kids at the Capitol
Day of the Child Young adult members of the Marion County Commission on Youth, Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council share their thoughts on policies impacting youth. This past President’s Day, over 500 Hoosier youth used their day off from school as an opportunity to participate in civic engagement activities at the Indiana Statehouse. Known as “Day…
Graduate Judges Take on Civic Outreach
By Peyton Restauri, Intern • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach What is the role of a judge beyond the bench and gavel? When a person envisions a judge, the first image that springs to mind might be a solitary figure in a black robe, presiding over a courtroom and issuing decisive rulings. While that…
The Future of Adult Guardianship
By Nick Parker, Staff Attorney | Office of Court Services, Adult Guardianship Office Guardianship is an area of law that continues to grow and evolve. In recent years, new laws and policies have re-evaluated how society views this legal arrangement, including what a guardian’s proper rights and responsibilities are for providing care to an adult…
Improving Permanency Outcomes One Hearing at a Time: A Study of Indiana’s CHINS Proceedings
By Jamie Devine, Court Improvement Program Administrator | Office of Court Services, Children & Families Division High-quality court hearings play a critical role in achieving timely, safe permanency outcomes for children involved in Child in Need of Services cases. To better understand how these hearings are conducted in practice, the Indiana Court Improvement Program partnered…
Spotlight: Events, Awards & Appointments
NAMI Board Member, Dr. David Spradley (left), with Judge David McCord. Events & Awards Mental Health and Criminal Justice Summit The National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana hosted its Mental Health and Criminal Justice Summit on March 6. Jennings County Judge Murielle Bright delivered the afternoon keynote address, titled “Perspectives from the Bench: Expanding Mental…
Resources for Juvenile and Family Court Judges
The Youth Justice Oversight Committee, the Family Law Taskforce, and the Court Improvement Program are actively working on initiatives and tools to help improve court processes for litigants and judges in juvenile delinquency and family law cases. Here are some of the resources available: Youth Justice Oversight Committee The statewide Youth Justice Oversight Committee was…