WARSAW — All four sitting Kosciusko County Superior Court Judges are
filing their declarations as candidates in the upcoming May 5 Primary Election:

• Judge Karin A. McGrath, Superior Court 1
• Judge Torrey J. Bauer, Superior Court 2
• Judge Chad M. Miner, Superior Court 3
• Judge Christopher D. Kehler, Superior Court 4

Collectively, these judges bring more than 110 years of legal experience to the bench. Each judge is a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College and they have served on numerous Indiana Supreme Court Committees and community-focused non-profit boards, reflecting their deep commitment to justice, the rule of law, and service to others.

“It would be our honor to continue serving the citizens of Kosciusko County and we
wholeheartedly support one another’s reelection,” the judges stated. “Throughout our previous terms, we have strived to administer justice fairly and efficiently, guided always by the Constitution and the laws of Indiana. We remain committed to judicial independence, thoughtful deliberation, and respectful collaboration with our fellow judges to deliver fair and impartial outcomes for all who come before the court.”

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INDIANAPOLIS —  Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath has been appointed to serve on the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys.

The appointment was made by Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court, according to a news release from the state.

Judge McGrath has presided over the Kosciusko Superior Court 1 since her appointment by Governor Holcomb in 2021. 

She was instrumental in establishing the Kosciusko County Public Defender’s Office and has established the Kosciusko County Reentry Court.

“I am honored by this appointment, and I look forward to working with the other members of the Commission and having the opportunity to provide input as a trial court judge working with public defenders on a daily basis,” McGrath said.

The Commission is an independent judicial branch agency of the State of Indiana that has worked since 1989 to establish standards for public defense services and to facilitate partial reimbursement for counties that meet those standards. The Commission supports and encourages counties to provide effective, legally sound public defense by tying state funding to adherence to quality standards.

The Commission is currently mandated to:

• Make recommendations to the Indiana Supreme Court regarding standards for indigent defense services for defendants facing the death penalty.
• Adopt guidelines and standards for indigent defense services under which counties are eligible for reimbursement, including.
• Make recommendations concerning the delivery of indigent defense services in Indiana.
• Make an annual report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Supreme Court on the operation of the public defense fund.

The Commission consists of 11 members: 3 are appointed by the Chief Justice; 3 are appointed by the Governor; 2 are members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 2 are members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

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WARSAW — The newest effort to support convicted criminals in ways to keep them from being incarcerated again is up and running in Kosciusko County.

The local justice system already has a drug court and and the community recovery program, and now, there’s is a Re-Entry Court run by Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath who says the focus of this program is on "high-risk, high-need defendants who need a lot of accountability and structure."

Participants are released from incarceration early, and provided with various services including mental health services, drug testing and weekly meetings in court to track their progress.

[caption id="attachment_105245" align="alignright" width="180"] Karin McGrath[/caption]

"It's pretty intense," McGrath said after providing an update to Kosciusko County Council Thursday night.

The court takes a problem-solving approach, and for dependants, it is likely one of the rare times they see a judge providing advice not associated with a sentence.

She said the stakes are high for the participants.

"If they choose not to take their e-entry, recovery and rehabilitation seriously, the worst case ... is they are terminated from the program and they return to do the sentence they otherwise would have done," McGrath said.

The city of Warsaw provided $30,000 in opioid settlement money for the program and the county council approved more than $100,000 Thursday to cover remaining costs.

The court already has its first participant and McGrath is hopeful it can grow.

She said she thinks the new court will dovetail nicely with the drug court and the jail's CRP.

The court already has its first participant and McGrath is hopeful about the future.

"We're not wanting to rush to add too many (participants). We're building as we go, but we're hoping we get to the point where we have a really thriving court," she said.

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WARSAW — Pinwheels on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn spun nonstop Friday as if to remind those gathered to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month that the need to end child abuse can’t come quick enough.

“April is Child Abuse Awareness Month ... In 11 months of the year, groups represented here today work tirelessly to mitigate, minimize the impact and prevent child abuse. The month of April, though, is specifically called out to focus on prevention,” said Bowen Center President and CEO Rob Ryan in his opening remarks at the annual pinwheel garden planting and march supporting child abuse prevention held on the southwest corner of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

“It’s universally accepted that for humanity to continue and grow, we need to save space for our next generation to grow safely. We’re proud to be here today with support services, educators, Department of Child Services to shine a light on an issue that we believe is preventable. We’re proud to partner with other passionate advocates of children, parents, caregivers and families who do the right thing. That’s simply not just not abusing children, it’s a commitment to bettering ourselves and the system for children to be able to navigate and grow in a safe place,” he said. 

Erin Rowland Jones, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County, said, “We live in an amazing community, but child abuse and neglect still occur here.”

In 2023, CASA of Kosciusko County served 22% more children than the year before, she stated. They served 144% more physically-abused children.

“So what can you and I, members of this community, do to prevent child abuse?” she asked. “Healing and change happens in community and relationship. If you see a family struggling, maybe through financial difficulties or a single mom juggling a lot, help them. Be there for them. Be an ear for them. Bring them a meal. Ask to babysit their children. The more we as community members see a family with needs and fill those needs ourself, the stronger our community is.”

Rowland Jones encouraged people to volunteer for organizations like Big Brother Big Sister, Baker Youth Club and CASA that work with and mentor the children of the community.
Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath said, “I believe the way that a community reacts to its most vulnerable people is very telling about where that community’s heart is. It’s encouraging to me to see these numbers out today in these conditions here to support the prevention of child abuse.” 

She said they know the effects that abuse and neglect have on children in the now and in the long term.

“They’re damaged emotionally, mentally - the way they form relationships, the way their personality develops, the way their very brains develop,” McGrath said.
The statistics of child abuse should break a person’s heart.

“The many sources I see of abuse and neglect, the average is 1 in 7 children. Sexual abuse, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 8 boys by the time they turn 18, they’re sexually abused in some form,” she said. “If the numbers don’t shatter you, how about the pocketbook? The lifetime expense that’s incurred as a result of abuse and neglect hits something like $592 billion. That’s right up there with the same kind of social financial impact on things like diabetes and heart disease.” 

Children who are abused and neglected are 11 times more likely to enter the criminal justice system as adults, McGrath said.

“We can’t ignore the numbers. We can’t ignore these vulnerable people in our community. Numbers break our hearts, numbers make us sad, maybe cause us to pause for a moment. Anyone should feel that kind of compassion. Let us be a group of people who use that compassion to take action and change things. Let’s support the kids in our community,” she concluded.Kosciusko County Local Office Director for the Department of Child Services Sara Cole said,

“Today we’re recognizing that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Prevention is defined as the act of stopping something from happening or arriving. The majority of what the Department of Child Services does involves responding to child abuse and neglect situations after they have already occurred. That said, child safety is our number one goal.”

This month, and every month, she said it’s important to recognize the families, agencies and community for working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. “Through this collaboration, we can keep children safe,” Cole said.

For anyone who has a concern about child abuse or neglect occurring, she reminded everyone that in Indiana everyone is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect. The DCS hotline, staffed by DCS employees 24/7 365 days a year, is 1-800-800-5556.
Kosciusko County Prosecutor Brad Voelz said, “Pinwheel planting truly resonates with our community, raising awareness and igniting conversations long after what we do here today.”

He said the prosecutor’s office continues to “share in this necessary, important and commendable work. ... The work we do is vital in our collectiveness and to protect and prevent children’s abuse and neglect. We all provide life-changing support to our most vulnerable.”

Voelz encouraged everyone to continue together to fight and empower children to prevent their abuse in the community.

Tracy Horrell, Warsaw Community Schools assistant superintendent for secondary education, said, “At Warsaw Community Schools, our mission is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others. When we engage with potential and new staff, this is one of the first things that we teach them because it drives everything we do with those we serve. By focusing on the word ‘enriching,’ Warsaw Schools create safe and sound learning environments and classrooms that make children feel safe and develop positive relationships with students. 

“For the past six years, my wife and I have chosen to enrich our own personal lives as well. We have been on the journey of being foster parents and have provided care for over 15 different children from time to time. In May of 2021, my wife and I added two little girls to our family whom we had been fostering. I’m pretty sure that these two little ones have enriched my life far more than what I have done for them. Nevertheless, they have also taught me that the work is far from over. We learned right away that neglect and abuse looks very different and the effects can last a lifetime. We’ve learned that just being in our family doesn’t erase what has happened and that we cannot just invest a little because the work is never done,” he said.

Horrell said efforts cannot stop within the confines of schools, they must extend into the communities and beyond.

“We must continue to nurture partnerships with parents, law enforcement, social services and other stakeholders to form a united front against child abuse. The need is high but together, we can make a tangible difference — one child at a time,” he said.

Following the speakers’ remarks, those assembled marched around the courthouse square and planted additional pinwheels to raise awareness and promote solutions that address the causes of child abuse.

The pinwheel was introduced in 2008 as a national symbol for child abuse prevention. It also represents efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize the prevention of child abuse and neglect, according to a news release provided at the event from Bowen Center.

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WARSAW — Dozens of pinwheels will be “planted” in downtown Warsaw to raise awareness of child abuse at noon Friday on the south lawn of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

The public is invited to attend as area organizations join together in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Following brief remarks, those assembled will march around the courthouse square and “plant” pinwheels in the lawn to raise awareness and promote solutions that address the causes of child abuse.

Representing the joyful childhood all children deserve, the pinwheel was introduced in 2008 as a national symbol for child abuse prevention. It also represents efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Speakers will include: Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center president and CEO; Erin Rowland Jones, CASA of Kosciusko County executive director; Judge Karin McGrath, Kosciusko Superior Court I; Brad Voelz, Kosciusko County prosecutor; Mayor Jeff R. Grose, Warsaw; and Tracy Horrell, Warsaw Community Schools assistant superintendent of secondary education.

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WARSAW -- Local elected and civic leaders on Friday called on more people to get involved in the defense of children.

Story continues below

[caption id="attachment_77496" align="alignright" width="700"] Counterclockwise from top: Supporters gathered Friday at the Bowen Health Center in Warsaw to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month. Speakers included Bowen Center Executive Director Rob Ryan; Dr. Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent David Hofferet and Kosciusko County Superior One Court Judge Karin McGrath. News Now Warsaw photos by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Dozens of people emblazoned with blue t-shirts calling attention to child abuse prevention provided a backdrop to a series of short speeches commemorating Child Abuse Prevention Month in Warsaw on Friday.

The event was held outside the Bowen Health Clinic entrance on Dubois Drive and included blue pinwheels placed in the yard.

Among those speaking were Mayor Joe Thallemer, Kosciusko County Prosector Brad Volez, and Judge Karin McGrath as well as Bowen Center's executive director Rob Ryan.

Representatives of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Department of Child Services (DCS) also addressed the crowd.

Here are a few highlights:

Kosciusko County Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath
pointed out that trauma from child abuse doesn’t end when they turn 18.

“These kids don't just leave our system and we can be relieved that they're now grown up and they're going to be okay. The damage that's been caused is repeated then in their own families in the next generation to come and it impacts our communities in measurably negative ways,” she said. 

* * *

Sarah Cole, director of Kosciusko County, Department
of Child Services, said they only get involved in a fraction
of what’s happening in the county involving child abuse.

“If you have concerns of abuse or neglect occurring, please remember that everyone in Indiana is a mandated reporter of abuse and neglect. If you suspect or have concerns of child abuse or neglect, please call our hotline which is staffed by DCS employees 24/7 365 The number to call is 1-800-800-5556," she said.

* * *

Erin Rowland Jones, the executive director of Court Appoint Special Advocates (CASA), said they need more volunteers, but added there are many ways one can help.

“If you can't be a casa be a Big Brother or Big Sister. Be a foster parent. There's so many ways you can give get involved to provide that relationship and community to families that need that.” she said.

* * *

Rob Ryan, executive director at Bowen Center, said they work
to help families stay together, sometimes help them reunite
and in other cases, help ensure children find a safe new home.

“If we’re going to spend some time working on intervention, how much more important is it to spend on actually making sure it doesn’t happen in the first place?” he said.

The post More calls heard for more involvement in protecting childen from abuse appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW -- Everyone who is saddened or angered by stories of child abuse and neglect was encouraged Wednesday at a blue pinwheel planting ceremony to be pro-active instead of burying their heads in the sand.

The ceremony, organized by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Kosciusko County, took place at noon at the county courthouse.

CASA of Kosciusko County Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones explained, “We are here to bring some attention to child abuse prevention. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and we urge the entire Kosciusko County community to engage in activities that strengthen families in our community.”

She said they plant pinwheels each April as they are the national symbol of child abuse prevention. The pinwheel represents the playfulness and whimsy of a happy childhood that all children should have.

“We, as a community, are here to stand up against child abuse and bring attention to child abuse prevention,” Rowland Jones said.

Kosciusko County Local Office Director for the Department of Child Services Sara Cole said, “Most often when I tell people what I do for a living, they say things like, ‘I could never do what you do.’ And I’ll be honest with you, what we do at DCS is very challenging.”

Another thing that people often ask her is what can they do to help.

“So, if you are asking yourself, ‘What can I do to help children in the community of Kosciusko County?’ I have some suggestions for you,” Cole said.

She suggested a person could become a mentor to youth who are struggling, become a CASA volunteer, become involved with their church and find ways to give back.

“But beyond any of that, and most importantly, I will tell you that the department is in desperate need of foster parents to take in children,” Cole said. “Whenever a child is removed from their caregivers due to abuse and neglect, we try to place children as close to their home as possible so the children can maintain their relationships in school and in the community.”

If possible, DCS will place children with relatives or kinship family to ensure a child’s comfort in a challenging time, she said. “Currently, most of the children placed through Kosciusko County are placed with relatives and kinship care, which is a huge benefit to the children. However, when relatives and kinship are not available, DCS relies on foster parents to take children in.”

Cole said over the past year, there have been several situations where children had to stay the night in the local DCS offices due to no relative or foster care placement being available to the child.

“DCS staff does our best to make the child feel as comfortable as possible in these situations, but staying the night in an office does not compare to going to a home with a bed to sleep in,” she said.

She encouraged those at Wednesday’s event to consider becoming a licensed foster parent, to take time to learn about the process and make an informed decision.

“As a final thought, I want to remind you all that everyone in Indiana is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect. If you suspect or have concerns of abuse or neglect, please call our hotline, which is staffed by DCS employees 24/7/365. The number to call is 1-800-800-5556,” Cole stated.

Former Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP) Director Courtney Jenkins told her own story about dealing with CASA.

“Our family was directly impacted by CASA nearly 20 years ago when we assigned a CASA for our son. We were in a custody battle and trying to get his biological dad’s parental rights terminated,” she said. “We didn’t really know what to expect.”

One day she was at home and the CASA made a visit. Jenkins said she was “mortified” because she felt like the CASA was there to judge her family.

“But what I really quickly came to understand was that (she) was there to represent our son. She wasn’t there to judge my messy house or my half-dressed kids. She really came so that she could be a voice for our son. And, she stepped in when our love and protection weren’t enough. We needed somebody who could unbiasedly advocate for him and speak to the judge and the courts on his behalf without the he said/she said and without the emotion that a parent has behind it. And she did that. She did it in the most kind and compassionate ways,” Jenkins recalled.

The CASA visited Jenkins’ son at school, interviewed neighbors, Jenkins’ husband’s co-workers and family.

“She was just this sweet, kind, compassionate woman who was not assuming. She just was there to speak for our son. And, she was able to do such a wonderful job because she had had, one, a great life experience, but also she had received great training through the CASA organization,” Jenkins said. “For us and our family, we’ve always been incredibly grateful for her kindness and her compassion and her ability to fill that gap between what we could do for our son and what needed to be done for him.”

She said she will always be grateful to CASA for all that they do in advocating for children.

Rowland Jones said Jenkins’ story brings up a good message.

“We at CASA typically get involved in cases when there has already been abuse and neglect, but we need more volunteers because often the judges do want to appoint us to family law cases where there could be issues where a child’s voice needs to be heard. There could be safety issues or other issues involved, so there is a preventative nature in some of the work that we do,” she said.

Those in attendance at the event then marched around the county courthouse in support of child abuse prevention, led by Jenkins and Judge Karin McGrath. At the end of the march, everyone planted pinwheels on the courthouse lawn.

McGrath then spoke, recalling what Cole had said previously about people telling her they can not do what she does for her career because it’s too sad and difficult.

“Well, guess what? Sadness and the difficulty does not go away if you bury your head in the sand and not get involved. It’s still there, you’re just not taking any action to make it better,” she said. “I think it’s part of the human condition we feel sadness when we hear of things like the number of children who are abused and neglected in this country alone. We should feel sad, we do feel sad. That is human.”

But to “really care” about that information is to take action and do something “in your little way with where you’re planted to make a change and to make that better. That is the most important thing we take away from events like this: What can I do? What am I going to do?” McGrath said.

She said a person may not be in a place in their life where they can be a foster parent, they may not have time “right now” to be a CASA but there are things a person can do. “If you’re not sure what those other little things are, talk to Erin, talk to Sara, talk to all the folks here who are involved now. They can point you in the right direction. There’s action every single one of us can take to watch out for these kids and to avoid seeing more of these children in my courtroom,” McGrath said.

For more about CASA, visit the website at https://casachildren.com/.

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WARSAW -- Earlier this month, all merit officers in the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department were given the oath of office.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Jim Smith oversaw the same type of ceremony for all of the other personnel in the department.

Superior Court 1 Judge Judge Karin McGrath gave the Oath of Office and Code of
Conduct to the remaining employees.

Smith again shared the importance of his vision of family,
communication, trust and moving forward to serve the citizens of Kosciusko
County.

Among those taking the Oath of Office and signing the Code of Conduct were:

Corrections- Jail
Dispatcher- Central Dispatch
Work Release
Court Security
Community Corrections
Reserve Deputies
All Special Deputies
Sheriff Department Civilian Administration

[gallery size="full" columns="1" ids="74267,74265,74264,74263,74262,74261"]

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