Mahoning County Veterans Treatment Court Enhancement

Proposal Abstract

The Mahoning County Common Pleas Honor Court (MCCPHC) serves Veterans who have been charged with non-violent F4 or F5 offenses eligible for Community Control who meet the legal and clinical eligibility requirements and who have clinical diagnosis of substance dependence, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or co-occurring disorders, in an effort to divert them from the traditional criminal justice system, by providing them with the tools they need to lead a productive and law abiding lifestyle, while holding them accountable for their actions.  The court is located at 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503.  The court is overseen by The Honorable Anthony D’Apolito, and coordinated by Derick Young, M.S.W.  The primary goals of the Court include increasing the number of offenders with military services who access available resources provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mahoning County Veterans Services; increase the number of offenders with military service who participate in the MCCPHC, increase the successful completion rate for Court Participants, and reduce recidivism.  The activities of the Court include treatment, recovery supports, case management, and peer recovery servicers.  Treatment services include access to all levels of substance use disorder treatment, including detoxification, MAT, in-patient, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and aftercare counseling.  The outcomes include that within 12 months, 5% more of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court involved offenders with military service will access available resources provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Mahoning County Veterans Services; the MCCPHC will have 15 participants, at least 45% of participants will successfully complete the program, and the recidivism rate for those who successfully complete will be less than 20%.  The MCCPHC considers any Veteran changed with an offense in Mahoning County Ohio who meets the eligibility requirements of the court, including Mahoning County residents and those residing within 50 miles of Mahoning County.  The Court utilized the NADCP Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards as discussed in the narrative on pages 3-5, 7, and 13.  The Mahoning County Common Pleas Honor Court is asking for consideration under Category 2: Enhancement, in the amount of $750,000.  The Court is currently operating utilizing resources including Veterans Services, Ohio Supreme Court Specialty Docket funds, and local treatment services funded by the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.  . The Court is post-adjudication model utilizing the Intervention in Lieu of Conviction model in Ohio Revised Code §2951.041