Transcript STATE OF INDIANA Civil Rights Commission Agency Overview Joshua Brewster, Deputy Director “The Commission” Alpha Blackburn, Chair.

STATE OF INDIANA
Civil Rights Commission
Agency Overview
Joshua Brewster, Deputy Director
“The Commission”
Alpha Blackburn, Chair
Members
• Seven members appointed by Governor
for four-year terms
– David Carter, Vice-Chair, Spencer
– John Garcia, Highland
– Steven Ramos, McCordsville
– Barry Baynard, Greencastle
– Tehiji Crenshaw, Evansville
– Charles Gidney, Richmond
PURPOSE
• ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN THE
STATE OF INDIANA
• Hear appeals of “No Cause” findings
• Hear arguments on objections
• Make recommendations to legislature
• Issue Final Orders and Consent
Agreements
Executive Staff
• Jamal Smith, Executive Director
– Paula Barnett, Executive Assistant
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Joshua Brewster, Deputy Director
Danny Lopez, Education Director
Henrietta Poindexter, REPACE Director
Marco Deckard, Employment Director
Melissa Deering, Intake Director
CASE MANAGEMENT
Melissa Deering, Director
STAFF
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Christina Catalan, Receptionist
Verneda Mills, Case Manager
William Lindsey, Case Manager
Cindy Haynes, Case Manager
Tawanda Sharp, Case Manager
PURPOSE
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THE FRONTLINE
Field calls, emails, letters, web inquiries
Make referrals to other agencies
Build and maintain case files
Enter case info into databases
Assign cases to investigators
REAL ESTATE, PUBLIC
ACCOMODATION, CREDIT
and EDUCATION UNIT
Henrietta Poindexter, Director
STAFF
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Kim Simmons, Investigator
Michael Johnson, Investigator
Tanya Patterson, Investigator
Virginia Hernandez-Ocasio, Investigator
PURPOSE
INVESTIGATION
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Conduct intake interviews
Request documents
Interview witnesses
Inspect property
Attempt conciliation
Analyze evidence
Housing cases paid by U.S. Dept. of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD)
EMPLOYMENT UNIT
Marco Deckard, Director
STAFF
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Bradford Shockney, Investigator
Debra Bluitt, Investigator
Bernadette Nichols, Disability Investigator
Tammy Bibbs, Investigator
PURPOSE
INVESTIGATION
– Conduct intake interviews
– Request documents
– Interview witnesses
– Attempt conciliation
– Analyze evidence
Cases paid by U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION (ADR) UNIT
Joshua Brewster, Director
STAFF
• Diane Graves, Mediator
• Jonathan Gordon, Mediator
PURPOSE
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FACILITATE VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT
Initial contact with Respondents
Encourage early settlement negotiation
Arrange mediation conferences
Conduct mediation conferences
Draft settlement agreements
LEGAL UNIT
Joshua Brewster, Chief Staff Counsel
STAFF
• Michael Healy, Attorney
• Fred Bremer, Attorney
PURPOSE
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PROSECUTE “CAUSE” CASES
Facilitate settlement
Conduct discovery
Draft pleadings and motions
Represent Commission/Complainants
before ALJ or State Court
ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW JUDGE
Robert Lange, ALJ
PURPOSE
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Appointed by the Commission
Schedules legal proceedings
Rules on motions
Presides over public hearings
Issues proposed findings
FINANCIAL UNIT
Pamela Cook, Accountant
PURPOSE
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PAYS THE BILLS
Processes staff payroll
Monitors agency contracts
Applies for grants
Coordinates budget
Path of a Complaint
Filed
Assigned
“Cold Call”
Investigate
NoF
Litigation
Proposed Finding
Objections
Final Order
State Court Appeal
Appeal
Contact Us
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(800) 628-2909
http://www.in.gov/icrc