Former DCS attorney ready to rebuild communication with police

By Michele Holtkamp | Daily Journal

After a long career with perhaps the most-scrutinized Indiana public agency, a Greenwood attorney said she has the determination and experience to evaluate and guide the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Beckie St. John, who left the Indiana Department of Child Services earlier this year after 13 years, hasn’t practiced law in Johnson County. She’s not invested in relationships with people that could create future conflicts of interest, and she is able to evaluate the office, its policies, interactions and employees as an experienced newcomer to the county criminal justice system.

“I am aware of the challenges to overcome, and fairly significant criticism has been launched, and I am absolutely determined to do the tough work to move forward and rebuild relationships where necessary,” St. John said. “I have been challenged to do difficult but right things in my career.”

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As a lawyer, she has always been professional, which means sometimes accepting criticism of yourself or a team member in silence because confidentiality requires it, she said.

“You always have to understand the limitations of your role and stay within the limitations no matter how great the temptation might be to speak out,” St. John 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?

Bulk of attorney work has been in public service. “I’m deeply committed to public service work.” Started as a deputy prosecutor and fell in love with it. Is difficult but honorable work and wants to return to that.

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?

Experience is most recent work with the Department of Child Services for 13 years. Most recent five years were in a management role, and training personnel for the legal division. Incredibly proud of that work to implement a formalized training program. Given freedom to build a program from the ground up and was sole person responsible for executing the training. Traveled the state mentoring and guiding attorneys with their skills and personal interactions.

Most recently was assistant general counsel for the southern region and had immediate supervision of 9 people. Has great deal of experience in direct and indirect supervision in government work. DCS is always under public scrutiny, and it was rarely positive. Had a lengthy career under that scrutiny. “You learn to work that much harder to improve those relationships and improve those perceptions. I will find a way to make it better.”

Is a servant leader, focused on mentoring and coaching aspects of leadership. Sees a need, at least initially, for more transformational leadership at prosecutor’s office.

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

“What people see most in me is a willingness to step in and help wherever I can.” While a manager, would step in with a staff attorney behind on court orders. “I don’t think there’s any task as a manger or leader that you shouldn’t be willing to perform to assist your team. I was the first person to say how can I help, what do you need, let me get that for you.” Is the same person in private life. Volunteer with Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.

Operates with honesty, integrity and transparency. Such a high standard for any attorney, but definitely prosecutor. Is fiercely committed to the community.

Repairing trust and rebuilding honesty will be top of the list. Will better understand the situation, how people have been impacted and work to fully understand all problems before deciding how to repair. Will be well-informed about the reality of the past.

Are you an experienced trial attorney? Is such experience critical to serve as an effective prosecutor?

Yes and yes. Has been a trial attorney as a deputy prosecutor and throughout career in child protection, and private practice focused in family law. Have to be prepared and ready to go to trial in any cases. Completed training as a litigation attorney. Has tried many cases, primarily in prosecutor’s office and DCS. Has had cases be appealed, and all have been upheld. Also been trained as a trainer, which is key in an office that has to be able to litigate. Trained to teach those skills and teach them at the highest level. Would be the lead prosecutor in the most difficult, challenging cases.

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?

Important to understand expectations are the same things will demand of myself. Has a fierce determination to honor the responsibility we’ve been given. Would enforce characteristics of honesty, integrity and respect, regardless of the environment and the people you are speaking with. “I do not agree that a deputy or attorney should be granted automatic respect due to a title. Respect is earned, and you do that through honesty with people around you.”

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

Need to determine that through learning and conversations. Encouraged that no one has said the office is dysfunctional and beyond repair.

How do you intend on building a stronger relationship with your local law enforcement agencies? In what ways, if any, has that relationship fallen short?

Will draw on past experiences in building relationships in even challenging or hostile environments by opening communication. “Ongoing communication is critical. It’s not going to be about cursory introductions and then closing my door.” Prosecutor’s office has to be viewed as part of the law enforcement team in this community. “There have been difficulties, and relationships have broken down because of a breach of trust, disagreements in how to handle particular cases, and there’s a perception, at least, that there is a reluctance to take difficult cases to trial. If I get into that office and see that that is the culture that we are dealing with, that will change. You can’t take on the job and not be willing to take those tough cases as far as they need to go.”

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?

Not a fan of cleaning house, particularly not as a new member of the team. Won’t make career-altering decisions based on rumors or conjecture. Wants to meet people, see what they are willing to do, who they are and what they stand for. Everyone deserves an opportunity to show they can meet the expectations. Wants proven commitment to the work, in the office, courtroom interacting with others. “I understand there is a sense of urgency for bringing change to this office, but I also want to make sure I am fair and deliberate for that process.”

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

Not sure yet. Is aware of staff and courts being covered, and has heard that the office is overstaffed, and working on creative ideas for how to appropriately use the existing staff, or reducing the staff if that appears to be appropriate. Requires a deep dive when you are looking at budget. Look at what is being spent, and return, and expenses, efficiencies of various employees.

If you were aware of issues in the prosecutor’s office and aspired to this job, why wasn’t your name on the ballot in 2019 when Cooper was re-elected?

“I loved the work I was doing at the Department of Child Services. I was really dedicated to that work and didn’t envision that a time would come where I would walk away.”

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?

Husband Steve knows her better than anyone, can tell when struggling, and will question if he thinks she is misguided. Also sister Laurie and mentors from previous jobs, Dianna Mejia and John Shanahan.

Before their passing, her parents. “They were always my moral compass and they had the ability to see me in a light that was different than what I saw in myself, and it allowed me to have a more well-rounded view of how I was approaching something, and if I was approaching it competently.”

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?

Not sure yet. Studying how case review is handled, and has previous experience to draw from that worked well. Decisions are made by deputy prosecutors who were entrusted or empowered to make them, but in first six months in that job, would review and draft charges, and talk to a more experienced deputy prosecutor and get their expertise and opinions. If attorneys elect to stay and are allowed to stay, would trust them, would encourage them to come with questions. New deputy prosecutors would be mentored.

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

Both have equally important but distinct roles. “Because the interest are divergent, it is critically important that professional distance be maintained. If it isn’t, then the appearance of impropriety is almost certain to occur.” People seeing a relationship that they think is too cozy will call into question if defendants are being treated fairly, and if the state is being fairly represented. The system itself does require communication among them, the negotiation of plea agreements, for example. People would languish in jail if we didn’t have plea agreements, so ethical and respectful communication has to happen. Doesn’t mean you can’t have a friendship.

There’s a perception that the law doesn’t apply equally to all in Johnson County, and the way the departure of the former prosecutor was handled, from a delayed arrest to the sentencing, could be considered an example of that. What will you do as prosecutor to help break down those perceptions in the community and demonstrate that no one is above the law?

Law does apply equally to all people. If perception exists, it needs to be changed. You gather proof, take appropriate actions to show that you are treating people equally, and improve public relations by being part of community and speaking publicly to agencies and organizations, groups and individuals. Show public what you are doing as an office and how you are handling things.

The public can sometimes look at a sentence as lax or light, yet officials have to balance the point and goal of incarceration, the seriousness of the crime and, to some extent, the jail overcrowding. What is the correct balance?

Most important factors are severity, criminal history of the defendant, whether the history is repetitive, such as the third robbery or drug dealing. Crimes against people need to be treated more seriously than crimes against property. Favors a sentencing recommendation in drug possession or use cases that requires monitored probation with substance abuse treatment rather than incarceration.

Are any special investigative units or task forces needed in Johnson County? Does Johnson County need a narcotics task force? Why or why not?

Absolutely needs a narcotics task force. The opioid crisis in this state is tremendous and demands attention. Is concerned about the drug trade as a whole. Wants to reduce demand by getting people treatment. If it isn’t voluntary, then arrest and require treatment and monitoring while on probation. “We have to impact the supply. We need to be stopping the dealing that is going on. I think a task force dedicated solely to cleaning up the drug trade and eliminating addiction in this county is critically important.”

Do you support the current investigative and arrest techniques of the sheriff’s office and Franklin Police Department regarding narcotics? Why or why not? Would you put in place any changes?

Does not support the arrest roundups. Does support investigations of drug crimes. The offenses are not occurring in the one or two days previous to the sweeps. “That means that individual had been free to use and deal drugs while we were waiting to accumulate enough arrests for a large sweep.” Number of arrests in one day puts burden on entire system and doesn’t serve it well.

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

Would like a multi-agency task force formed specifically to address the mental health concerns in the community. County doesn’t have adequate treatment programs or facilities, and many people are left untreated also due to an insurance issue, then come into the criminal justice system because of committing crimes just to survive after not being able to keep a job or residence. “That is something that we as a community need to stop. It’s not just a law enforcement issue, it is multi-agency, and I would love to see a task force really working to address and solve that issue.”

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?

No. “I think it was the personal and professional responsibility of Mr. Cooper to resign once he had admitted guilt and taken responsibility.” His decision not to resign brought unnecessary scrutiny and criticism to individuals in the prosecutor’s office. Accepting payment for work that he was no longer doing was inappropriate.

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About the series

The Daily Journal has 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. The Johnson County Republican Party will name the next prosecutor at a caucus on Thursday.

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

Interviews and editing by Editor Michele Holtkamp.

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Age: 57

Residence: Greenwood 

Family: Husband, Steven, two adult children

Job: Self-employed attorney. Was attorney for Department of Child Services from 2006 until earlier this year. Positions for DCS included chief counsel for practice development and training and assistant general counsel. Former Hagerstown Town Court judge, civil litigation attorney and was deputy prosecutor in Wayne County for five years.

Education: Graduated from Bloomington High School North, Indiana University, and the IU School of Law

Memberships: American Bar Association.

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