Scott County Indiana Sheriff's Office

08/05/2026

We recently had one of our female groups complete and graduate our Financial Literacy and Money Mindset curriculum. This curriculum is focused on understanding their relationship with money and developing healthier financial habits. Throughout the program, participants explore how early childhood experiences and beliefs about money can shape financial behaviors in adulthood, including how finances may look different when transitioning from active addiction into recovery. A strong emphasis is placed on practicing financial gratitude and recognizing progress along the way helping participants build the mindset, confidence, and skills needed to support long term financial stability and success in recovery. We often don't think about how finances and how having financial security benefits our recovery.
This class helps participant develop skills needed for their path in recovery and how to better enhance their tools for a successful reentry. We thank Scott County Indiana Sheriff's Office for allowing us to teach these groups and to Mental Health America of Indiana for the support and guidance with our IRACS team.

07/27/2026

07/24/2026

Scott County Sheriff’s Office Staff attend Indiana Sheriffs Association Summer Conference.

Scott County – Members of the Scott County Sheriff's Office attended the Indiana Sheriffs Association Summer Conference in French Lick, Indiana, for two days this week.
The conference provided valuable training and updates on a variety of important topics, including law enforcement training, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on policing, non-lethal response strategies, jail accreditation, jail operations and training, and leadership development at every level.
Attending this conference helps strengthen partnerships, enhance professional development, and ensures our agency continues to serve the citizens of Scott County using the most current knowledge and best practices. It also provides an excellent opportunity to learn about emerging trends in law enforcement and collaborate with sheriffs and deputies from across Indiana.
Pictured from left to right are Jail Commander Douglas Herald, Chief Deputy Joe Guarneri, Indiana Sheriffs Association Jail Services Coordinator Bill Wilson, and Sheriff Jerry Goodin.
A special note of appreciation goes to Bill Wilson, who serves as the Jail Services Coordinator for the Indiana Sheriffs Association. Bill is recognized throughout Indiana and the United States for his extensive expertise in jail operations and accreditation. His knowledge and guidance have been instrumental in helping our agency achieve and maintain high standards. It was an honor to spend time with him during the conference, discuss the jail programs, and recognize the positive impact he has had on our office.
The Scott County Sheriff's Office remains committed to continuous learning, professional excellence, and providing the highest level of service to our community.
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Guarneri

07/16/2026

Deputies do it again!!!

Scott County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Jerry Goodin
News Release
111 South First Street Date 7/16/2026
Scottsburg, Indiana 47170

Immediate Release:
Another Citizen’s Tip Leads to Scott County Sheriff’s Deputies Identifying an Intricate Multi-County Theft Ring Involving Stolen Vehicles and a Stash of Stolen Property Items…Alleged Thieves Arrested – Investigation Ongoing.

Scott County- On July 10th, Scott County Sheriff’s Deputies, acting on a “Tip” from a concerned citizen, located a stolen truck in rural Scott County. From that initial bit of information, Deputies were able to identify a complex theft ring that targeted properties owned by recently deceased citizens, abandoned properties, or properties where the homeowner or tenant would be away for a period. After conducting a thorough investigation, Deputies executed several searches at various locations in Scott, Washington, and Clark Counties. Recovered during the searches were two trucks, one car, one utility trailer, one car dolly, two ATV’s, three guns, and several hundred tools and household goods. All were allegedly stolen by the alleged thieves.

The following arrests were made concerning this investigation.

· Cory Daniel Smith, 32, of Scottsburg, Indiana was arrested Burglary (6 counts), Theft…greater than $750 (8 counts), Theft…less than $750 (5 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

· Richard Colton Howard, 36, of Scottsburg, Indiana was arrested for Burglary, Theft…greater than $750 (4 counts), Theft…less than $750 (2 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Ma*****na.

This is an ongoing investigation. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Scottsburg City Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office.

Sheriff Goodin advised the following… “this investigation is another example of how law enforcement, when working in conjunction with the citizens they serve, puts criminals on

notice that if you commit crime in a community that embraces “community-oriented policing”, you will be discovered and held accountable. I am proud of my deputies, who work so hard every day making Scott County a safe and flourishing community to live and raise a family. It may sound cliché, but as the Sheriff of Scott County, I am blessed with their presence and partnership. Furthermore, I appreciate the 23,800 citizen deputies who consistently provide information that assist the Sheriff’s Office in rooting out criminals from our community…please keep those tips coming”.

At this time deputies feel as though all the property recovered has been connected to an owner. If that changes the public will be notified for identification.

Photo attached is of some of the property recovered.
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Dawson

Contact Sheriff Jerry Goodin at Scott County Sheriff’s Office (812)752-8400.

All offenders are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

07/15/2026

The Indiana Sheriff's Association interviewed Sheriff Goodin about the success of Community/Problem Oriented policing in Scott County. This is being shared for them.

07/13/2026

Scott County Sheriff’s Office is Vigorously Investigating Theft from Vehicle(s) …Citizens Assistance is Sought and Appreciated.

Scott County- On June 26th at approximately 2:00 am, the first of several vehicles were “raided” while parked at several residences in the Leota/Eastern Washington County area. Property owners with cameras were first alerted by their respective alarm systems that something was amiss. After viewing their camera video footage, they realized an unknown person had entered their unlocked vehicles and had stolen tools and other items of value, which they promptly reported to police. Upon arrival at the first reported victim’s home, Deputies began investigating the theft, viewing and recovering the video footage of the thief. Several callers in the area reported a theft later in the evening and early morning, once they realized they were victims. The video recovered from those thefts revealed the same thief entering their vehicles as well. After contacting the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies learned they were investigating thefts in their respective county on the same night, and their video footage recovered showed the same suspect as seen on the footage from the Scott County thefts. After exhausting all leads to date, the public’s help is sought in identifying this offender.

Sheriff Goodin is calling for his 23,800+ citizen deputies to view the video attached to this release and if you recognize the thief, please give us a call…Additionally, Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller request any citizen who may have been victimized in their county to call the Sheriff’s office at 812-883-5999. Furthermore, citizens are encouraged to do the following;

· Camera/Video Footage: If you have a camera that captures footage of the roadways in Leota or Eastern Washington County, please view your footage from the evening of 26 June, approximately 1:00 am until daylight. Furthermore, check your footage of your own driveway…you may be a victim of this thief as well.

· If you have information regarding who is the guilty party(s) involved in this behavior, we are asking you to call our office at 812-752-5550 or 812-883-5999 (if a Washington County Resident) and report what you know. You can remain anonymous.

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Dawson

Contact Sheriff Jerry Goodin at Scott County Sheriff’s Office (812)752-8400

07/08/2026

Sheriff Goodin discusses two recent cases in Scott County.