Summit County, Ohio: Judge Alison McCarty’s Re-Entry Court of Summit County has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets.
To receive the certification, Judge McCarty submitted an application, underwent a site visit, and provided specific program materials in response to certification standards that went into effect in January 2014.
“It has been my honor to serve as Presiding Judge of Re-Entry Court since 2011. I have seen the difference the program has made in helping offenders leaving prison transition back to a safe and sober lifestyle. I look forward to continuing this work,” McCarty said.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy congratulated Judge McCarty and her
Re-Entry Court team for receiving final certification.
“Specialized dockets offer an alternative to incarceration, and reflect a community’s
belief in second chances,” said Chief Justice 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 specific treatment needs of people who are charged
with a variety of 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
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.
The certification requirements include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating
effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team to implement daily
operations of the specialized docket. The team is headed by the specialized docket judge and
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; 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.