Vanderburgh County judges win pay increases for home‑verification officers

Vanderburgh County Council on a voice vote approved pay increases for part‑time home‑verification officers who do off‑duty home visits for the county’s problem‑solving courts.

The change raises pay for home‑verification officers to $60 an hour for the Veterans Court request presented to the council; another related request for superior court was described by judges as increasing pay to a range between $55 and $60 an hour. The pay will be paid from the county’s problem‑solving grant fund, according to the judges who presented the requests.

The judges told council members they based the requested rate in part on comparable off‑duty pay earned by sheriff’s deputies and on local practice. “I pay him $30 for a 30‑minute haircut. I thought my home‑confinement officers should get at least what I pay the person that cuts my hair,” one judge said, explaining how he settled on the requested hourly rate. Another judge explained deputies working off‑duty assignments typically earn time‑and‑a‑half, which would place the effective rate in the mid‑$50s to $60s range.

Council members asked whether officers must use county vehicles or pay travel costs themselves; the judges said many officers use vehicles provided by the sheriff’s department but perform home visits during off‑duty time and do not receive benefits as part‑time workers. Council discussion also clarified that the request is for hourly pay, not a change to benefits.

A council member moved to approve the circuit and superior court personnel requests together; the motion passed by voice vote.

Council President Schaller said the increases were intended to help courts complete required home visits and to retain experienced deputies who perform the work.

Outlook: The increases will come from the problem‑solving grant fund; no additional local recurring budget appropriation was specified during the discussion.