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Wells County

Probation Department

WELLS COUNTY Probation DEPARTMENT
102 W Market Street
Suite 404
Bluffton, IN 46714
Mon-Fri: 8AM-4:30PM
(260) 824-6496
(260) 824-6519
probation1@wellscounty.org
Gregory E. WerichChief Probation Officer
Vicki L. CaleProbation Officer
Stephanie L. EddyProbation Officer
Stephen N. PastoreAssistant Chief Probation Officer
Jessica J. NixPresentence Report Consultant
Allison C. PerryProbation Officer
Valerie N. RunyonProbation Officer
Greg SteeleField Officer
Jordyn A. ShumateSecretary
Travis Ford
Field Officer
VacantStudent Internship

EmeritusScott Ailor, Probation Officer
Susan Reinhard, Secretary
Jan Stronczek, Secretary
In Memory
Celissa (Lisa) Masterson, Probation Officer
Dianne Schwartzkopf, Secretary

Wells County Probation Department Exit Survey
Announcements
NEW! Check-In Kiosk and QR Station
Next time you visit the Wells County Probation Department, please use the automated Kiosk to check in, or use 
the QR Station to easily submit information to your probation officer or check in for your meeting or drug screen 
on your own device.
Probation Re-Entry Services Program

In a collaborative effort with the Wells County Jail, the Wells County Prosecutors Office and the Wells County Probation Department, a probation officer meets with inmates at the Wells County Jail weekly to facilitate access to substance abuse or mental health treatment within days of the inmate’s release. Inmates will complete the necessary paperwork to allow the probation officer to schedule appointments with providers on their behalf and act as a liaison to make access to treatment easy as possible. This program is designed to remove some of the barriers that many inmates who desire to change their behavior face upon release from incarceration. Eligible inmates are those who are approaching a sentence release date or who may be released from jail to probation supervision. Inmates may request to meet with the probation officer via the jail’s in-house system.

Probation Department Services
  • Adult Misdemeanor and Felony Probation Supervisions
  • Adult Misdemeanor and Felony Presentence Investigations
  • Juvenile Delinquency Preliminary Inquiries
  • Juvenile Delinquency Informal Adjustment Services
  • Juvenile Delinquency Probation Supervisions
  • Juvenile Delinquency Predisposition Investigations
  • Juvenile Delinquency Placement Supervisions

 

Free Rides To Treatment

211, with assistance and support of FSSA, has recently announced a statewide Lyft program to offer FREE rides to and from substance abuse treatment and certified recovery support programs. To request a ride, dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966 and follow the prompts to be connected to a trained Lyft Community Navigator.

Text Message Reminders

Follow this link for more information about text message reminders for those with criminal cases  https://www.in.gov/judiciary/admin/3633.htm

Approved Programs

Generally, only programs in the Approved Counseling Programs will be approved by the supervising probation officer.  Other programs may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Schedule (July 2025)

Substance abuse programs must also meet standards set by the local courts for substance abuse treatment programs (see Statements and Notices below).

Statements and Notices
Disclosure of Probation Records

The Wells County Probation Department for many years prepared summary criminal history reports for individuals and agencies upon request.  Since Indiana probation departments are not depositories of public records, the practice of preparing these summaries was simply a courtesy service to the community.  However, due to limited resources the Probation Department staff discontinued these record search summaries for individuals or non-judicial agencies.

Therefore, individuals and non-judicial agencies are directed to contact the Wells County Clerk about accessing criminal records located in Wells County.  You may also wish to search records at the following public court access link: Odyssey Case Management System

Travel Permits

Some probationers may be permitted to travel outside the state of Indiana with permission of the court. Consult your probation officer at least 10 business days before making travel plans, and be prepared to provide at a minimum the information in the form provided here. (Note: if you have any conviction or adjudication for a sex offense as defined by Interstate Compact rules you may be subject to registration in the location in which you are traveling.)

Travel Permit Application

Interstate Probation Supervision Transfers

For individuals who reside in another state, you may be required to transfer probation supervision to the state of your residence. The link below will assist you in checking if you meet criteria for a probation supervision transfer.  The decision to transfer is determined by the court and supervising agency regardless if you meet criteria or not.  You must have written verification of your residence, employment, and the $125 interstate transfer fee paid in cash to the Wells County Clerk for the Interstate Compact fee prior to leaving Indiana.  Some offenses require you remain in Indiana until the receiving state provides reporting instructions, which may take up to 5 days: please have temporary accommodations ready for that time period. 

Interstate Compact Eligibility Worksheet

Probation Reports

The reports are based on quarterly reports submitted to the Indiana State Court Administration. (PDF Documents)

2015 Annual Report
2016 Annual Report
2017 Annual Report
2018 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
2023 Annual Report
2024 Annual Report

The following reports and statements are from research or studies done independently by this office for specific internal purposes, and are shared here for anyone interested.  (PDF Documents)

Countermeasure Fee Collections
Drug Test Comparisons Report
Department Time study
Consequences of Juvenile Adjudication Study

Job Opportunity: Probation Officer

We are seeking a full-time Probation Officer. Applicants must be at least 21 years old with a bachelor’s degree in a related field; no experience required. This is a 37.5-hour/week position with primarily weekday, daytime hours and some evening or on-call duties. The position reports to the Chief Probation Officer and serves at the pleasure of the Wells Circuit and Superior Courts. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to Stephen Pastore at probation10@wellscounty.org.

Internship Opportunity

The Wells County Probation Department is interested in working with college undergraduate and graduate students, especially if they are residents of Wells County.  This department works with both adult and juvenile jurisdictions, and we can provide to an ambitious student experience in the skills necessary for all most areas of an Indiana probation department.  Students of other disciplines (i.e., computer technology, business, foreign language, education, psychology, etc) will be considered if they can show how their skills may be used in the probation department environment. Work hours are negotiable, but interns may work up to 35 hours per week for 26 weeks.

Persons interested in internship opportunities may submit a cover letter with the application contained in the link below to the Chief Probation Officer at the Wells County Probation Department. This application may be emailed to the probation email linked at the top of the page.

Internship Information and Application (Fillable PDF Document)

Biographies

Vicki L. Cale, BS
Appointed and certified a Wells County probation officer since 1988.

Stephanie L. Eddy, BA
Appointed and certified a Wells County probation officer since 2000.

Travis Ford
Employed as a part-time field officer by Wells County Probation since 2025.

Jessica J. Nix , BSW, MPA
Certified probation officer since 1997 and associated with Wells County probation since 2008.

Stephen N. Pastore, BSW, MPM
Appointed and certified a Wells County probation officer since 2007.

Allison C. Perry, BS
Appointed and certified a Wells County probation officer since 2017.

Valerie N. Runyon, BS, MSW
Appointed and certified a Wells County probation officer since 2020.

Jordyn A. Shumate
Employed as a secretary by Wells County Probation since 2024.

Greg Steele
Employed as a part-time field officer by Wells County Probation since 2021.

Gregory E. Werich, BA, MPA
Certified probation officer since 1987 and appointed Wells County chief probation officer in 1997.

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