Recovery court moves forward

Council accepts $65,000 grant from Nord Family Foundation

Lorain City Council formally accepted a $65,000 grant from the Nord Family Foundation for the creation of the Lorain Municipal Recovery Court.

The grant will support the hiring of a recovery court coordinator after the court received final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets.

In order to receive the certification, the local court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit, and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that went into effect in January 2014.

In a news release, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated Lorain Municipal Court and Judge Thomas J. Elwell Jr. for receiving final certification.

“Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and rehabilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society,” said O’Connor. “Studies have shown this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.”

Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of

different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior, according to the Ohio Supreme Court. There are more than 210 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that deal with issues such as:

• Drugs and alcohol

• Mental health

• Domestic violence

• Human trafficking The standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio, and allow local courts to innovate and tailor to meet their community’s needs and resources.

“Addiction is one of the most pressing issues facing the court system, and society as a whole,” said Judge Elwell. “A specialized docket to hear these cases has been proven to be the most effective approach to this problem. We at the Court are honored to receive this certification.”

The certification requirements include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team for implementing daily operations of the specialized docket. The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.

The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members who advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the promotion of statewide rules and uniform standards concerning specialized dockets in Ohio courts; the development and delivery of specialized docket services to Ohio courts; and the creation of training programs for judges and court personnel. The commission makes all decisions regarding final certification.