New Direction Drug Court is Re-certified through 2023
Perry County Municipal Court Receives State Certification
The New Direction Drug Court of the Perry County Municipal Court has earned 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 in to effect in January 2014.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated the Perry County Municipal Court and Judge Dean L. Wilson 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 Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen 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. 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.
Overdose numbers handled by The Perry County Sheriff’s Office Only
Jan 1, 2019-Dec 31, 2019---59 reported, 10 fatalities
Jan 1, 2020-Dec 31, 2020---36 reported, 5 fatalities
Jan 1, 2021-April 8, 2021---26 reported, 7 fatalities
Total reported from Jan 1, 2019- April 8, 2021---121 Overdoses, 22 fatalities
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 New Direction Treatment Team consists of Specialized Docker Coordinator Jordan Hollingshead, Chief Probation Officer Brad Agriesti, Intensive Probation Officer Kristin Browning, Court Administrators Kim Cheney/Christie Hampton, Hopewell Health Center, Integrated Services, All-Well Behavioral Health, Perry Behavioral Health Choices, and Pickaway Area Recovery Services.
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.
