Local defense attorney says focus should be on justice, moving forward

An experienced criminal trial attorney who has had a long career as a defense lawyer and a deputy prosecutor said she has what it takes to lead the prosecutor’s office, making the tough decisions about what charges to file and improving communication.

Carrie Miles has returned to working as a defense attorney again after a four-year stint in the prosecutor’s office. She credits her early mentors, such as Roy Dickinson, a well regarded local attorney who died several years ago, with instilling in her the importance of seeking justice with dignity and respect, and doing the right thing.

The job of prosecutor is not only a figure-head post. The next leader must go beyond the political position and being the face of the office.

"I’m not sure that everyone who hasn’t been touched in their lives by a prosecutor in some way, shape or form, being charged, a victim, would necessarily recognize that," Miles said. 

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She is up for the task, she said, and has always wanted to be the county’s prosecutor. She wants to move the county forward and focus on what can happen next, rather than continue to focus on the removal of former Prosecutor Brad Cooper after he was convicted of felony charges. 

Miles dated Cooper when she was working as a deputy prosecutor for him, and she ended the relationship and continued to work at the prosecutor’s office for some time before she left the job to return to the defense bar. She characterized it as a personal relationship, and that she still considers him a friend, despite their differences. She doesn’t appreciate his behavior, but wants to look to what he does next, because everyone makes mistakes, she said. 

She is disheartened by what people are saying about his tenure and the office, and said the accusations are being used as a political tool.

She called further questions about their relationship crazy, stupid and disingenuous. Acknowledging their past relationship was only remotely relevant, and further questions would only harm families.

"It’s not relevant as to whether I am qualified for the job," Miles said. 

Why do you want to serve as Johnson County Prosecutor? What qualities do you possess that make you the best person for the position?

Grew up and attended high school and college in Franklin, and first job was working for Roy Dickinson, who instilled the dignity and respect of seeking justice for your clients. As defense attorney, has tried big cases against Lance Hamner (former prosecutor), and saw a zealous and thoughtful prosecutor, and both sides seeking justice with respect and dignity. "This is my community."

Is uniquely qualified. Has screened, reviewed, filed and prosecuted criminals through jury trials, and gotten justice, but as defense attorney, has won trials for defendants who should have never been charged. "Until you play both roles, you can not understand the power of the role of prosecutor. I have seen it from both sides."

Knows that charging decisions change lives. Is one of six board-certified criminal law specialists in Indiana. Has extensive criminal jury trial experience in high-level felonies. "I want our citizens and my family to continue to live in a safe community."

What experience do you have in leading a large government department, and setting the tone for daily interactions with other key agencies, such as the judges and local law enforcement? What is your leadership style?

Is truthful and direct. Doesn’t hesitate to make decisions, and functions well in the grey. Is approachable and has managed people. Ran own private practice, managed staff as a business owner, served on community corrections board, which includes a cross-section of all the people a prosecutor should be able to work with. Appears at board meetings. Was sex crimes and domestic violence prosecutor, managed paralegals and victims advocates. Assigned tasks but also collaborated. Has established relationships, can communicate with investigators, has trained local law enforcement.

What are your core operating principles and philosophies, personally and professionally? How are they illustrated in your life?

Work hard. Be respectful of other people. Be truthful even when it’s hard to be truthful. You have to be truthful. Be knowledgeable. Started practicing criminal defense when girls didn’t do that. Has earned respect among experienced attorneys. Can handle a multi-million-dollar budget and guide the humans who work there.

Won’t sit at a desk and puppet master the staff. Will push sleeves up, get in the mix, work hard. Administrative part of that job is not as substantial as people want the public to believe. "It’s important, but not as important as the knowledge and work." Will continue carrying a caseload. Will make decisions in the moment, in the middle of the night when called from a crime scene.

What is your specific plan to ensure that the prosecutor’s office regains the level of integrity and transparency that the people of Johnson County deserve?

"I believe that the moral compass and integrity is being used as a political tool to gain votes in the caucus. I recognize the personal crisis that occurred. I worked in that office for four years and there are many people over there that their integrity is being questioned. I recognize the outward appearance of an integrity issue. I recognize changes need to be made, but let’s focus on the fact that our community is safe because people are doing fantastic work in that office."

Some issues in the office need to be changed, but focus should be on how to carry out integrity in new administration. Stop talking about old administration. Would lead by example, and does that daily. Gain integrity by being approachable, available, knowledgeable, through the work product, by showing up and being professional.

What are the biggest successes in the prosecutor’s office?

Child support collection division consistently collects more money than others in the state. So good at it that the state has required other counties to look to Johnson County as a model. Also, long history prosecuting, arresting and investigating drug dealers, and sending true drug dealers to prison for a long period of time. Successful at separating the dealers from the addicts who need treatment.

Other counties call to ask about how to carry out a drug roundup. "Those were done under Brad Cooper. Despite the negative things being talked about, his lead in that department was phenomenal. He trained the people who are currently doing it, so it has continued."

Other successes are the victim advocate team, the child advocacy center and the facility dog that provides comfort to victims retelling a traumatic event. 

What are the biggest weaknesses and areas for improvement in the prosecutor’s office?

Definitely some changes and improvements are needed. Prior management style was very flexible, and the expectation was that you are a professional, show up and do the work. Some people have wholeheartedly taken advantage of that style. That needs to change. "I would expect those things would change or people would move on." Taxpayers are paying for the work. Everyone should always do their best.

How will you assess whether employees are able to conform to a new culture?

Problems have not been an every day occurrence and would be an easy fix mostly.

"For some, the time to conform has passed." Would have a direct and frank conversation with employees. When she was a deputy prosecutor, "I wasn’t the boss, but I came from a culture where you worked every single day. My work ethic remained the same. I saw people take advantage of Brad’s management style and it was disheartening to me, and I didn’t keep my mouth shut about it." 

What changes do you plan on making to the office and its personnel? How and under what timeframe will you determine who is staying on, and who is leaving? What process will you use?

Unique because has worked with and opposite of the deputy prosecutors. Knows what they have and haven’t been doing. Won’t re-interview them. "You cannot hit pause. That’s why I am the most qualified person. My job is to protect the citizens," rather than be cute or fair and say that you will interview them. Already knows what they are and aren’t, or should be, doing. Will get to work on Day 1. Will discuss expectations and ask employees to operate under those parameters starting immediately. 

Is the prosecutor’s office right-sized in attorneys and staff? How does the staffing compare to other counties?

Too many attorneys employed. Is a classic government office with a boss (Cooper) who truly cared about the humans who worked there. Had the budget to hire people, and county and case volume was growing. "It was the nature of a boss who cared about his people."

If selected, will be a restructuring. Won’t come in and gut the positive and fantastic things that continue to happen in that office.

Who are your top influencers, and how will you use them? Who will you use as a checks and balance on yourself if you gain one of the most powerful positions in the county?

My parents and two brothers who live here. "We call each other out." They are supportive but vocal when they see a bad decision. Would look to several attorney friends for feedback on ideas of strategy or policy.

Will Brad Cooper have any role, official or unofficial, with the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office?

No.

Do you expect any changes to the way cases are reviewed for prosecution?

Yes. Would set baseline standard. Deputy prosecutors would be knowledgeable enough to have discretion in filing decisions under the rules. Have to have deputies who can function in the grey. Prosecutor is ultimately responsible. Prosecutor’s office, generally speaking, does a good job screening — not overcharging, undercharging or declining.

Do you feel that the prosecutor should be held to a higher standard? What is that standard?

"It doesn’t matter what I feel. We are. That’s what the rule says. We are. I recognize that."

What is the right type of relationship for the prosecutor’s office and deputy prosecutors to have with defense attorneys?

Too close for comfort is unethical, and that does not happen. Even the deputy prosecutors she is not pleased with do not fall into that behavior. But deputy prosecutors and defense attorneys do talk, go to dinner together and ask for cases to be reviewed. "That’s people doing their jobs. The perception might be that that’s a cozy relationship."

Had a close friend that did trials against one another. Trusted one another not to lie and to be ethical. "That benefits each other. That’s not cozy. That’s both of us doing our jobs. Positive personal relationships between the defense bar and the prosecutor’s office is good for justice all the way around."

Do you have the guts to do the right thing all the time? Give us examples of when you’ve done that.

Is a crucial part of this position. Former boss (Cooper) always had the guts to make the right charging decisions no matter who he upset. Just didn’t handle communication well. Will administer justice, which means filing big cases and having the will to go forward all the way to trial. Or will decline a case where someone got hurt, but defendant can’t be charged, and would be truthful about that.

Jury trials are easier to win in other counties where cases are filed that shouldn’t be, or can’t be proven, rather than the prosecutor dealing with the backlash of not filing a charge. Those cases are hard to screen and are key to being a good prosecutor. "It means not everyone always loves you. I am OK with that. I want to go home and sleep at night because I did the right thing."

Should the public be informed of the details of the crimes that are committed in the county? What level of transparency would you guarantee?

Hopes people recognize that part of prosecuting cases is directed at protecting victims of crime. Recognizes the public has a need to know, and need for transparency, but look at this from the other side, which is a prosecutor protecting victims. Oftentimes, search warrants continue to be sealed for safety or other reasons. Each decision is very victim- and fact-specific. On transparency, the relationship between the prosecutor’s office and other county offices can be improved. Lots of struggles between those offices have been communication issues and information sharing.

Would follow the rules on release of probable cause affidavits and search warrants.

Do you support the current investigative and arrest techniques of the sheriff’s office and Franklin Police Department regarding narcotics, which result in roundup arrest sweeps of multiple suspects on the same day? Why or why not? Would you put in place any changes?

Absolutely supports. It’s a safe way for officers to work together to arrest people in a confidential way because people don’t know it is coming. I’m empathetic to law enforcement concerns that they are too big, jail overcrowding, the workforce issue that day, but those issues can be solved. "It gets the word out in the drug world. People come through panicked — they should have never come to Johnson County." Has lots of benefits. Some struggles with manpower, overcrowding, concerns, but not difficult to overcome.

What do you propose to address the mental health issues that are leading many people to the criminal justice system?

Has struggled with that aspect of the criminal justice system since becoming a defense attorney. "Our system oftentimes fails in all aspects because the services don’t exist or are few and far between." Supports the re-entry court, which involves mental health agencies assessing for addiction and mental health issues. Supports rehabilitating the people who want to be rehabbed, and sending to prison the dangerous people. "Our system can do both."

Probation department does a great job, but always faces resource and cost issues. Knows people are trying. 

Should Cooper have been paid by the taxpayers and retained the title and benefits for three months after he pleaded guilty, but before his sentencing?

Not appropriate to answer and doesn’t know the ins and outs. Knows that Cooper worked tirelessly for the county for 25 years, and this being a conservative Republican county and having a Christian faith, expects people to recognize that humans are fallible and that he had a high-stress job. Said a tumultuous relationship led to his demise, and she doesn’t condone it. "It’s all about what he has done and what he does now."

"People screw up big time sometimes. It’s what they do after." Won’t throw away everything that Cooper did in this community. There are a lot of people out there who he saved, helped, protected. He has accepted responsibility for his actions. 

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About the series

The Daily Journal interviewed the six candidates who want to be Johnson County prosecutor on a variety of issues, including questions submitted by the public. We present their questions and answers in a series of articles. The Johnson County Republican Party will name the next prosecutor at a caucus on Aug. 15.

Due to the extent of the information covered, the answers have been edited for brevity. This is the second of six interviews, which will be presented in alphabetical order.

Interviews and editing by Editor Michele Holtkamp.

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Age: 47

Residence: Bargersville

Family: Two children, ages 18 and 14

Job: Spent 18 years working as a criminal defense attorney, then worked for four years as a deputy prosecutor for the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office. Returned to work as a criminal defense attorney one year ago for Baldwin, Kamish & Perry.

Education: Franklin Community High School, Franklin College, Indiana University School of Law — Indianapolis

Memberships: Johnson County Community Corrections board member, Johnson County Re-entry Court, Johnson County Bar Association, Indiana Public Defenders Council, Indiana State Bar Association, National Board of Trial Advocacy, domestic violence prosecutor for Domestic Violence Task Force, Sexual Assault Response Team member as a sex crimes prosecutor

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