The Heroin Crisis and Ohio's Courts

       A record number of Ohioans are dying from heroin. According to the Medina County Drug Task Force, Heroin related deaths have risen in Medina County each of the last four years. “Right here in Medina County, 20 individuals died of a heroin overdose in 2013.” A concurrent problem is prescription drug abuse. A common scenario is that people first become addicted to prescription drugs and then turn to  heroin because it is easier to get.

      The ripple effect of this problem affects the quality of life of the people you serve and the community you are striving to build. This is not a Medina problem or a Wadsworth problem or Brunswick problem, it is a life and death problem.

       When a heroin addict is arrested, the court is presented with the opportunity to impact both the addict and the community to which that addict will return.

       So the question becomes, what opportunities can the Medina County Common Pleas Courts provide while maintaining accountability on the part of the addict?

       According to Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, “Specialized dockets have proven effective at addressing persistent criminal behaviors,” “Specialized dockets result in significantly lower recidivism rates which means offenders become productive members of society, for which we all benefit.”

       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. Examples include drug courts, mental health courts, veterans’ courts, and re-entry courts. Such courts do not provide the offender with a free pass

       To become a certified specialized docket requires the court to establish eligibility requirements, evaluate the effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assemble a treatment team for implementing daily operations of the specialized docket. The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, other local agency staff, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.

       Presently there are more than 150 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that bring together court and treatment personnel to work collaboratively to assist defendants with treatment instead of prison for issues such as drugs, alcohol, and mental health. The success of specialized dockets is measured by reduced recidivism, improved treatment, and cost savings. While there are no certified specialized dockets in Medina County,  Judge Kimbler's drug court is awaiting final certification as such a docket.

       The use of specialized dockets is a decision made by each judge individually, that is, there is no requirement that judges use specialized dockets. This means that whether or not this resource is used depends on the people who are elected judges on the common pleas courts of Ohio.

            My practice of law over the last 32 years has taken me into Counties throughout the State of Ohio. In that time I have had the privilege of meeting scores of judges and seeing a broad perspective on the administration of justice. I have met with Judges in other counties who operate specialized dockets to educate myself on the benefits of these specialized dockets.

       In running for Common Pleas Court, I am not asking the voters of Medina County to elect me to the position as judge because I think I know all of the answers. I am asking the voters to elect me because I have the depth and breadth of experience to ask the right questions and know where to look for direction to find the right answers.