Senator Mike Bohacek and State Representative Jim Pressel visited the Starke County Justice Center Monday afternoon to recognize Sheriff Bill Dulin for the incredible impact he’s made on the community.
Sheriff Dulin was presented with the Circle of Corydon Award. According to the Governor’s Office, this award is provided to Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of Indiana and its people.
The award is for those who demonstrate, through life and service, qualities exemplified by the state’s greatest citizens.
Unlike some other awards where someone can nominate themselves or citizens can make nominations, an individual can only receive this award if they’re nominated by a state representative.
Senator Bohacek and Representative Pressel teamed up to nominate Sheriff Dulin and said they felt he was incredibly deserving of this award due to his innovative work at the Starke County Justice Center. Each of them also mentioned the incredible team of people that are employed through the jail and the Sheriff’s Department who help make it all possible.
Representative Pressel touched on the recidivism rate, which is the percentage of return offenders, and how that speaks to the effectiveness of the programs implemented under Sheriff Dulin’s leadership.
He noted, “When you talk about a recidivism rate, that 5 percent, you know you will find that nowhere else in the state and that just tells me that he is doing amazing things for the community and he’s just an amazing leader.” Pressel continued, “We should just stop and take a minute to recognize guys like that because they don’t come along very often.”
Senator Bohacek commented on the Justice Center’s unique Therapeutic Community Program, noting that it is the first of its kind in the state.
Senator Bohacek said, “They’re giving these guys a sense of pride and making them feel like they’re a part of the community again, which when they get disconnected from the community because they’re arrested, that’s a big problem.”
He added that the addition of a farm stand through the Fostering a Recovery Mentality (F.A.R.M) program makes the Justice Center eligible for USDA vouchers which will help bring more money in to help fund more programs in the future.
Senator Bohacek indicated another reason Dulin was deserving of this prestigious award is that it is truly remarkable when a department in a smaller community is able to utilize the limited resources available them to implement effective, one-of-a-kind programs that make a noticeable difference.
