DeKalb County courts and Northeastern Center partner for Assisted Outpatient Treatment pilot program

Mental health initiative named in memory of Judge Michael J. Kramer

AUBURN, Ind. – The DeKalb County courts and Northeastern Center are partnering for an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) pilot program, helping individuals with serious mental illness reverse the cycle of repeat hospitalization and legal interactions.

DeKalb was one of seven Indiana counties recently selected by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration, through its Office of Behavioral Health, for the AOT program pilot cohort. Judge Patrick Jessup, DeKalb Superior Court 2, and the Northeastern Center will work together to implement the Hon. Michael J. Kramer AOT Program Initiative in DeKalb County, joining Indiana’s 10-county pilot cohort.

AOT is a type of civil commitment for those with severe mental illness. A successful AOT program relies on enhanced communication between treatment providers and the court, along with the treatment team’s diligent efforts to keep the participant actively engaged in treatment.

“I am excited to participate in the AOT pilot program because the judges in DeKalb County were actively considering options for increasing our courts’ abilities to address mental health needs in the community,” Judge Jessup explained. “The opening of this cohort to additional counties is precisely what we were looking for, an opportunity maximize collaboration with our community partners, while building best practices that may serve other communities around the state.”

Steve Howell, CEO of Northeastern Center, said AOT is shown to better support individuals with a history of legal interactions as a result of a mental illness.

“Engagement and adherence to treatment are major factors in successful mental health recovery, but these factors are also some of the biggest hurdles faced by individuals with serious mental illness,” Howell said. “AOT improves client outcomes by helping them become more active participants in their care. Northeastern Center is excited to collaborate with Judge Patrick Jessup to support this initiative in DeKalb County, as it furthers our commitment to mental health programs that help break the cycle of recidivism.”

While many counties in Indiana already utilize outpatient commitment orders, AOT programs build structure around the court order, which includes an active and involved treatment team and a judge who monitors an individual’s treatment progress. AOT programs also involve the input and participation of numerous stakeholders, including community mental health centers, state agencies, attorneys, police agencies, and family advocates.

AOT is meant for adults with mental illness who are struggling with treatment adherence and/or repeated cycles of hospitalization and criminal justice involvement. The goal is that they will experience fewer episodes of decompensation and encounters with law enforcement, while also spending less time under inpatient hospitalization.

The seven newly selected counties, plus three mentor counties, will create the 10-county cohort of judges who will work with local community mental health providers to explore ways to deploy AOT programs. The cohort will receive technical assistance from the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate the barriers to timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness through advocacy, public education, and support for the individuals affected by it.

About the initiative’s namesake

The Hon. Michael J. Kramer AOT Program Initiative is named in memory of longtime Noble County Judge Kramer, who passed away in March of 2025. He is the longest serving judge in Noble County history, first taking office on Jan. 1, 1991. He served as judge for Noble County Superior Court 2 until 2016, when he took the bench for the Noble County Circuit Court.

Judge Kramer was a distinguished advocate for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. He was proud of his involvement with the creation of the Drug Court, Family Preservation Court, Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court in Noble County.

His wife, Angelia Kramer said, “Mike’s greatest joy and life’s work was about helping others, being a part of systems improving, and ultimately lives changing for the better. What an honor that the future will carry his fingerprints. It’s a legacy that will have a lasting impact on individuals, families, and society.”