Mackenzie Clouter, executive director of CASA, was welcomed as a new board member.

KOSCIUSKO — Four new employee policies were introduced to the Community Corrections Board during the meeting held last night, Jan. 8. The new policies and procedures come months after a former Community Corrections officer had inappropriate relations with an offender, though no connection between the two incidents were made during the meeting.

One of the new policies presented concerned staff conduct with offenders. The policy states that “fraternization” between staff and offenders of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes indirect contact with offenders through social media and direct sexual contact such as inappropriate innuendos. Employees are required to maintain professional conduct while interacting with all offenders.

The other new policies dealt with dress codes, a credit card policy and the newly added drug court policy. The drug screening policy was modified to shorten the two-hour time period previously allowed for offenders to provide urine to a half hour time period. It was noted that all offenders know they must provide a urine drug screening before they come to the office, so the allotted time period is adequate.

All new and modified policies and procedures were approved by the board.

A special budget meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22. The board approved meeting future dates of April 9, July 9, Oct. 8 and Jan. 14, 2019. All meetings are held at 6 p.m. inside the basement multi-purpose room of the Justice Building, 121 N. Lake Street, Warsaw.

In other news:

• Two staff members, Ryan Andrew and Taylor Pagan, were approved for pay increases.
• Currently, there are 89 adults and three juveniles active in the program. So far, 104 offenders have successfully completed the program.
• Two additional appropriation requests were approved by the board. These requests will go before the Kosciusko County Council on Thursday, Jan. 11.
• An open drug court employee position has yet to be filled. It was noted that the position may be filled shortly but applications are still being accepted.
• Mackenzie Clouter, executive director of CASA, was welcomed as a new board member.