Monroe County, Indiana, has been at the forefront of justice -system change when it comes to piloting new programs in the state.
“We were one of the first to do drug treatment courts, we were one of the first few mental health courts, we were one of the pilot counties for pretrial release program,” recalls Prosecuting Attorney Erika Oliphant.
They’re also now on the leading edge of research, partnering with the Monroe County branch of the NAACP and Paul H. O’Neill Professor Eric Grommon Eric Grommon to take a closer look at decisions made in her own office as people make their way through the criminal justice system—and the potential impacts those decisions have on racial and ethnic disparities in Monroe County.
“The justice system often falls short of its constitutional duties to be fair and impartial to everyone,” Oliphant says. “I truly believe this type of assessment is simply the right thing to do and helps us find ways to improve the system while increasing public transparency about what we are doing.”
Oliphant was recently honored by the IU Public Policy Institute with the John L. Krauss Award for Public Policy Innovation for her efforts to promote equitable justice in Monroe County. The Krauss Award is given to an individual or entity for applied research or activity that helps Indiana and/or Indiana communities with real-world solutions.
“I would not have this award, were it not for my team—I didn’t win this award alone,” she says with a smile. “I owe a debt of gratitude to my research team.”