State Sen. Waltz, Community Leaders Commend DOC for Moving Parole Office

STATEHOUSE - State Sen. Brent Waltz (R-Greenwood) joined school and community leaders today to commend the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) for moving a controversial parole office out of the Bates Hendricks neighborhood.

Waltz worked with constituents from the Bates Hendricks Neighborhood Association, DOC and James A. Garfield Elementary School leaders to relocate Indiana Parole District 3, which opened earlier this year.

Parolees including violent criminals and sex offenders - traveling to and from the facility - are only blocks away from about 450 kids enrolled in grades K-6 at Garfield Elementary, according to Waltz. Department of Correction officials estimate 80 to 100 parolees visit the office each day.

Waltz, neighborhood and school officials commended the DOC for working quickly to move the facility, located at 512 E. Minnesota St., to a business district in the 400 block of Norwood Avenue. Waltz said he shared residents' concerns for the close proximity of the parole office to Garfield Elementary, the lack of public transportation and parking for parolees and increased traffic in the area.

Waltz said the Norwood Avenue location currently serves as the Indianapolis Men's Community Re-Entry Center (IMCRC), but will relocate to Liberty Hall at 675 E. Washington St. Liberty Hall will provide services for about 150 work release offenders and give the DOC an additional option to expand the program.

Officials from the DOC said moving the IMCRC to Liberty Hall reduces the daily costs of housing by $17 per day while moving both facilities will save more than $1 million.

State Sen. Brent Waltz represents Senate District 36, which includes a portion of Johnson and Marion counties.