MOUNT VERNON — The Mandated Education and Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Drug Court and the Mental Health Court have earned final certifications from the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Specialized Dockets.
To receive the certification, a local court submits a detailed application, undergoes a visit and report on its practices, and provides specific program materials in response to certification standards that went into effect in January 2014.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy congratulated Judge John C. Thatcher and the MERIT and Mental Health courts for meeting the standards required for final certification.
“Specialized dockets offer an alternative to incarceration, and reflect a community’s belief in second chances,” said Kennedy. “They focus on people who are willing to work to overcome the personal challenges that led to their involvement in the justice system. The court and community partners work together to supervise treatment, training, and support, providing local solutions to local problems under leadership of the local court.”
Courts with specialized dockets address the specific treatment needs of people charged with various offenses using recommended best practices that focus on offender accountability, behavior change, and recovery. There are 258 certified dockets in Ohio courts with expertise in areas such as:
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Mental Health
Domestic Violence
Human Trafficking
Veterans Issues
Certification standards
The certification standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio and allow local courts to innovate and tailor programs to meet their community’s needs and resources.
Judge Thatcher said, “MERIT Court has helped many people turn their lives around who got involved in the criminal justice system because of their dependence on drugs or alcohol. We are hoping for the same kind of success with the new Mental Health Court.”
The certification requirements include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating the effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team to implement its daily operations. The specialized docket judge heads the team, which can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and more.
The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members to advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the statewide rules and uniform standards concerning specialized dockets in Ohio courts, developing and delivering specialized docket services to Ohio courts, and creating training programs for judges and court personnel. The commission makes all decisions regarding final certification.