STATEMENT FROM JUDGE THOMAS A. TEODOSIO

Drug Court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving
drug-using/abusing, non-violent offenders, through immediate comprehensive supervision, drug testing, and treatment services, as well as immediate sanctions and incentives.

Drug Court programs bring the full weight and co-operative effort of all interveners, namely: judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, substance abuse treatment specialists, law enforcement correctional personnel, educational and vocational experts, and other community persons, to bear, forcing the offender to deal with his or her substance abuse problems.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Summit County Felony Drug Court (SCFDC) is an innovative program available to felony drug possessions/abuse offenders county wide, taking offenders from all three Municipal Courts within the county; Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls. This program is intended to swiftly introduce drug possession/abuse offenders to drug treatment with continuing judicial involvement, to increase the likelihood of rehabilitation and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. It is a collaborative effort between the courts, prosecutor’s office, law enforcement, defense attorneys, and treatment providers, to provide offenders with mandatory treatment, increased supervision, and coordinated use of community resources with the following goals in mind:

  1. Consolidate service delivery to Summit County Felony Drug Court clients.
  2. Reduce the incidence of substance abuse among the adult felony offender population of Summit County.
  3. Reduce recidivism among drug possession/abuse offenders and contribute to community safety.
  4. To provide the courts with another sentencing option to serve the needs of the felony offenders in Summit County in order to reduce the use of state prisons and local jail facilities.
  5. To enhance the education level of adult, felony drug offender population.
  6. To increase the rate of employment among adult, felony drug offenders.
  7. To enhance the participant’s ability to function in the community.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. No more than two prior felony convictions in the past ten years.
  2. No prior felony conviction for a crime of violence.
  3. No more than one prior conviction (misdemeanor) for Domestic Violence.
  4. No pending charge of Domestic Violence, or current participation in the Family Violence Court in Akron Municipal Court.
  5. No conviction for a felony of the first or second degree in the past ten years.
  6. No prior participation, or refusal to participate in any Drug Court program.
  7. No prior arrest or conviction for “Trafficking”, “Distribution”, etc.
  8. No pending felony case, or pending misdemeanor domestic violence, assault, or menacing charge.
  9. The incident involves “Possession of Drugs”, either F4 or F5.
  10. The drug must be either cocaine (crack), methamphetamine, heroin, or ecstasy.
  11. Must be physically and mentally able to participate in the program.
  12. Persons on Probation or Parole are not eligible to participate.
  13. Must have police/prosecutor approval to participate.
  14. Screeners will also review the past misdemeanor record and history of “Contempt” citations. This information will also be used to determine eligibility on a case by case basis.

STRUCTURE OF THE DRUG COURT

The Summit County Felony Drug Court (SCFDC) will be based upon a post-adjudication model.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM

The program will be for a minimum of 18 months in length. The period of participation can be extended, based on the client’s non-participation or failure to remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol for a period of at least nine months.

CASE PROCESSING

Initial eligibility for the Drug Court Program will be determined at the municipal court level and will consist of those offenders arrested for felony drug possession/abuse. Screening will be done daily, covering all three Municipal Courts in Summit County. Offenders will enter a “not guilty” plea at their initial arraignment and an attorney will be appointed (if indigent). They will return to court in three days, with the attorney. During that time, their eligibility will be verified and police approval will be obtained. If the offender elects to participate in the Program, a “Bill of Information” will be prepared by the Prosecutor’s Office, and the offender will enter the Program within the next 10 days. If they elect not to participate, the case will proceed through normal channels. At their appearance in Drug Court, the offender will enter a “guilty” plea to the Bill of Information and the Judge will impose sentence, but will suspend that sentence based upon the offender’s desire to enter the Drug Court Program. If the offender successfully completes the Program, the “guilty” plea will be vacated and the charge will be dismissed. Offenders who fail to successfully complete the Program may have the original sentence, which had been suspended, imposed.

DRUG COURT LIAISON
Ashley Frank
53 University Ave
Akron, OH 44308
Phone: 330-643-7844 FAX: 330-643-8194
E-Mail: afrank@cpcourt.summitoh.net