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Felony drug court going strong with new name and structure
BENJAMIN WHITE
Associate Editor
Published: December 13, 2013
On a recent Monday, Summit County’s felony drug court carried on as it has for the past decade despite its revamped programming and new name – Turning Point. A middle-aged offender chose to speak before her official graduation, standing before Judge Thomas A. Teodosio, drug court staff and fellow participants.
“The drug court program has been a godsend to my family and friends,” she said. “My life was spiraling out of control rapidly in just two years, and I was the only person that couldn’t see it.”
After succumbing to an addiction to opiates, she said she eventually found herself weighing 89 pounds in jail.
“I’ll never forget my first visit with my caseworker Emily. I’m sure she won’t forget as well,” she said. “She was the only person I could talk to.”
After receiving grants totaling over $1.2 million in recent years, Turning Point staff overhauled the entire program last summer, splitting the program into two tracks, updating admissions requirements and shortening offenders’ commitments to one year.
Despite the special docket’s recent changes, Jennifer Hawkins, Turning Point’s program coordinator, said the treatment largely remains the same.
“I think the biggest change is that we’re now getting people at the point of arrest,” she said. “We’re just getting used to working with a little bit different population.”
According to information provided by the court, Turning Point continues to offer offenders dismissal of charges pursuant to Ohio’s statute concerning intervention in lieu of conviction (RC 2951.031), it now includes a post-sentence track for probation violators. If participants of the second track perform exceptionally well, Judge Teodosio can grant early termination from community control.
Both tracks utilize four phases – Compliance, Program Engagement, Growth & Development and Maintenance – to form a treatment regimen that generally takes a year to complete. Previously, the special docket lasted between 18 and 24 months without specific phases.
Referrals now come from two tracks as opposed to the previous method of pulling cases at arrest or after indictment. Offenders that do not comply with Summit County’s Intervention In Lieu of Conviction program may be referred if they struggle, and offenders who violate their probation may be referred before sentencing.
Admissions requirements changed from a review of current charges and criminal history to a review of offenders’ Ohio Risk Assessment Community Supervision Tool score. The required levels of the statistical assessment also vary between genders.
Under the new rules, Turning Point participants now fall under the control of the Adult Probation Department and must live in Summit County or an adjoining county.
Hawkins said another significant change to the program gives Judge Teodosio absolute authority over admission to Turning Point.
“I really love my job, but the Turning Point program is by far the most rewarding aspect of my job as a judge,” said Judge Teodosio, who said he regularly receives Facebook messages from former participants.
Judge Teodosio said that his staff recently submitted the required materials to obtain state certification as a special docket, as all specialty courts must do by the end of the year.
In October, the ADM Board recognized Turning Point with the Dr. Robert Smith Award at its annual Trailblazer Awards banquet for its efforts to combat addiction.
Since the drug court’s changes, which took effect in August, Turning Point has admitted a dozen participants in the diversion track and 27 in the probation track. Since its beginning in 2002, the special docket has graduated about 500 offenders.
Though several offenders had left Judge Teodosio’s courtroom in handcuffs after failing drug tests, others watched silently as the new graduate addressed the court.
“I’d like to thank Judge Teodosio for believing in me and allowing me into this awesome program,” she said before turning to address her caseworker.
“I’m going to miss you because you are more than my felony drug court case worker – you are my friend.”