Yuma attorney wins lifetime achievement award
Jones recognized for his work with specialty court programs
Ron Jones, the current Conflict Administrator/Special Defense Counsel for the Yuma County Superior Court’s Adult Drug Court program, received the Lifetime Achievement Award last month during the statewide annual Arizona Probation Employee Recognition Day.
“I was kind of surprised. I knew I was getting some type of award, but not this. I’m calling it my longevity award,” Jones said of the Sept. 28 event in Phoenix. “It’s not a prize for me. It is for all of us who get up every morning to help other people.”
In 1997 Jones, who received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona after graduating from Stanford Univer-
sity, helped then presiding Superior Court Judge Tom Cole with the development and creation of the Drug Court program.
“I was going to retire in 1998, but Judge Cole talked me into working for the Drug Court on a month-tomonth basis. Four years later I was hired on permanently,” Jones said. “Here it is 20 years later and I’m still doing it.”
During his time with Drug Court, Jones has also written nearly all of the legal documents used by the program and has personally represented over 1,400 of its participants.
At 81-years-old Jones still goes to work every day and was also recently selected to represent the probationers who are placed in the Yuma County Superior Court’s Swift, Accountable, Fair, Enforcement (SWIFT) program.
“His immense knowledge of criminal law and his compassion for offenders struggling with substance abuse and mental health conditions has made him a tremendous asset to both of these programs,” according to his nomination letter.
Citing his expertise and professionalism, Jones is credited with significantly contributing to the success of the Yuma County Drug Court and many of the recognitions the program has received over the course of the last two decades.
When asked why he does it, Jones said he truly believes in the concept behind a non-adversarial court approach, which specialty courts, such as Drug Court, rely upon to achieve successful outcomes.
“It is court supervised treatment rather than the regular cycle of addiction and incarceration,” Jones said. “By in large we don’t see the people in these type of programs in court anymore.”
Jones also recalled one time when he was checking out at a grocery store and the cashier recognized him and asked to shake his hand, saying he helped save her son’s life.
While encounters like that are one of the reasons he continues to do the work he does, Jones offered a simpler explanation.
“The reason I still get up every morning and go to work is I don’t like the option,” Jones said.
A member of the Arizona State Bar Association, Jones has practiced criminal law for 56 years, including once being elected as the Yuma County Attorney.
Following his time at the helm of the county attorney’s office he served as the very first Yuma County Public Defender. He is also a former president of the Yuma County Bar Association.
While so many other specialty courts across the
state and country struggle finding attorneys for their programs, Yuma County has been able to consistently rely on Jones’ dedication and commitment for over 60 years.
His nomination letter also included, “his contributions, tenure, and achievements aren’t likely to be matched by many in the legal profession.”