Indiana

Department of Correction Indiana Ombudsman Bureau (Bureau)

Budget

$250,902 (FY 2023-25)

Staffing

2 staff members

• As of 2025, the Bureau’s staff consists of the Director and one assistant. The Director, Charlene Burkett, has led the Bureau since 2005.

State Prison Profile

Indiana has 18 state prison facilities subject to Ombudsman Bureau oversight and incarcerates approximately 24,930 people in state prisons. The state prison system is run by the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC). The Bureau also investigates complaints at Indiana’s three juvenile facilities.

Authority

IC 4-13-1.2-1 through 4-13-1.2-12

• Structure: The Bureau is housed within the Indiana Department of Administration, but the Director is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor (4-13-1.2-3 and 4-13-1.2-4).
• Authorized Activities: The Bureau can investigate complaints that the IDOC violated a law or policy or endangered any person’s health and safety. By statute, the Bureau is required to publish an Annual Report as well as monthly reports. (4-13.1.2-5).
• Facility and Information Access: The Bureau has “immediate access” to any IDOC facility and broad access to records and documents relevant to complaints, including “appropriate access” to records of incarcerated people (4-13-1.2-6).
• Privacy: The Bureau’s communications are privileged (4-13-1.2-7).

Activities

The Bureau investigates complaints concerning IDOC within certain limits and provides information to incarcerated people and other concerned parties. The Bureau plays a role in increasing accountability and transparency by publishing publicly available reports on its activities. The Bureau does not visit or carry out proactive monitoring of facilities other than during investigations.

• Investigating complaints: The Bureau primarily receives complaints from incarcerated people through prison email systems on GTL tablets. Most complaints are about medical issues. Generally, complainants must attempt to resolve the issue through IDOC before coming to the Bureau.
• Providing information: The Bureau provides information to and keeps track of anyone who contacts the office.  

Reports

Monthly Reports; Annual Reports. Reports are publicly available here, however, the last published report is from December 2019.

Organizational History

A predecessor agency to the Bureau existed from the 1980s to the 1990s. The Bureau was reestablished in 2002 by a state representative who, after promising to respond to all letters his office received, was overwhelmed by the number of letters and complaints from a prison in his district.