SUMMIT COUNTY ADULT PROBATION

The County of Summit, Adult Probation Department, is part of the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Department works under the direction of the Common Pleas Judges and the Court Executive’s Office. The Probation Department is charged with providing supervision of offenders in the community, as well as producing investigative reports for the court. The goal of the Department is to help insure a safer community through the diligent supervision of offenders.

Supervision includes maintaining personal contact with the offenders and making appropriate referrals to community agencies to help rehabilitate the offenders. In the event an offender has failed to adequately follow the probation orders as outlined by the court, it is the responsibility of the Probation Officer to return the offender to court for further appropriate action. The Probation Department employs 59 individuals, in a variety of capacities, who provide services in three separate locations.

NORTH BRANCH

The North Branch is located in the Macedonia City Center, at 9699 Valley View Road, in Macedonia. This location houses one full-time Probation Officer who serves the offenders located in the Northern portion of Summit County. This office also supervises the majority of the Probation cases that are transferred out-of-state. The North Branch can be reached by telephone at 330-468-5488.

SOUTH BRANCH

The South Branch is located at 480 Portage Lakes Drive. This office has two Probation Officers. They provide supervision of the offenders who reside in the communities in the Southern part of the county, such as Green, Barberton, and Coventry. One of the officers at this location also specializes in Child Support cases. The telephone number for the South Branch is 330-644-6312.

53 UNIVERSITY AVENUE

The majority of the Adult Probation Department is housed at 53 University Avenue. The Intake Secretary is the first contact for offenders referred to Probation. The person in that position is responsible for gathering initial information and referring the offenders to a Probation Officer. The Intake Secretary can be contacted at 330-643-2051.The Chief Probation Officer, five Supervisors, 26 Probation Officers, 1 LEADS/Work Release/Community Service Coordinator, and 14 Secretaries work at this location. Depending on the needs of the offender, Probation cases are assigned to general supervision officers as well as Specialty Units. Specialty Units consist of the following:

PRE-TRIAL SERVICES

The Pre-Trial Services Staff consists of one supervisor and four Officers. Pre-Trial performs two primary functions:

1. Make bond recommendations to the Judges in the Court of Common Pleas, as well as Akron Municipal Court, for any individual making an initial appearance on a Felony Charge. Bond recommendations are made after the offenders are interviewed and specific information, such as criminal record, home address, and employment, are investigated.
   
2. Help alleviate jail overcrowding. This is accomplished through the bond recommendations and the supervision of some of the offenders who are released on bond. Supervision of those released on bond includes random drug testing, reporting, and referrals to appropriate community agencies. The goal of supervising these individuals is to help them get started in some rehabilitative efforts as well as maintaining close contact to make sure they make their scheduled court appearances. Supervision results from a direct order from the Court, or as a condition of bond as recommended by Pre-Trial. Pre-Trial can be contacted at 330-643-2314.
   

INTENSIVE

The Intensive Unit consists of four Probation Officers and one supervisor. Offenders are typically high-risk offenders that require very close supervision. They are placed into the Intensive Unit by court order. Caseloads in this unit are smaller to allow for more concentrated supervision with a major emphasis being placed on field supervision. The Intensive Unit is funded by a State grant and is intended to be used as a diversion from a state institution.

SEXUAL OFFENDERS UNIT

The Sexual Offender’s Unit consists of two Probation Officers. This unit supervises all individuals who either have a history of sex offenses or are presently under supervision for a sex offense. The purpose of the Unit is to effectively supervise sex offenders who have been released to the community. This includes referrals to appropriate rehabilitation agencies and close supervision, including frequent field contacts. The Unit is also responsible for making sure that the offenders are properly registered with the Sheriff’s Office.

MENTAL HEALTH

This Department has one Officer who specializes in Mental Health cases. Individuals who are placed on Probation that have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, and/or are clients of Community Support Services (CSS), are referred to the Mental Health Unit. An emphasis is placed on insuring that client’s comply with counseling and medication requirements.

FELONY DUI

All felony DUI Offenders are referred to one Officer who specializes in these cases. This officer is responsible for making sure that the offender is complying with all statutory requirements. This Unit also facilitates all referrals to the agencies who provide the programming to meet these requirements.

CHILD SUPPORT

Four Officers, including one at the South Branch, supervise cases that originated through the Child Support Enforcement Agency. The main focus in these cases is to make sure that offenders are making their current monthly support payments. This unit works closely with the two Assistant Prosecutors regarding the monitoring of the cases as well as matters of non-compliance. Offenders assigned to this Unit who are unemployed, are referred to a special program that was developed and designed to assist this type of offender with job training and placement.

SEALINGS

The Department has one Officer specializing in Sealing Investigations. This Officer conducts interviews with the applicants, and conducts all the research, before preparing a written report for the court to consider at the time of the applicant’s formal hearing.

WELFARE FRAUD

One Officer is responsible for supervising all of the Welfare Fraud cases. This officer works closely with the Department of Jobs and Family Services to coordinate compliance with court ordered payments and other needs, as they arise.

GENERAL SUPERVISION OFFICERS

Officers in General Supervision perform a wide variety of tasks. Besides supervising a caseload of offenders, they are also referred offenders for the purpose of conducting a Presentence Investigation and providing the court with a comprehensive report. The report includes information relative to the criminal circumstances, criminal record, social history, victim impact statements, and the officer’s impressions of the offender. These reports are taken very seriously and must be prepared under specific time constraints. (The Officers at the branch offices are considered General Supervision officers.)

With the exception of Intensive and Pre-Trial Services, all Officers are also assigned specific courts to cover during Criminal Call Days. All Officers, including Intensive, make field contacts when appropriate.