'You-Turn' recovery docket earns final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Specialized Dockets
WILMINGTON – The “You-Turn” Recovery Docket of the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets.
In order to receive the certification, the local drug court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit, and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that went in to effect in January 2014.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated Clinton County Common Pleas Court Judge John W. (Tim) Rudduck for receiving final certification.
“Specialized dockets have proven effective at addressing persistent criminal behaviors,” said Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. “Specialized dockets result in significantly lower recidivism rates which means offenders become productive members of society, for which we all benefit.”
Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior. There are more than 150 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that deal with issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, domestic violence and sex offenses.
“This achievement is possible because the community came together determined to help offenders find a different lifestyle path than the one they had chosen,” Judge Rudduck said. “New programs and resources are now available to treat drug addiction that may not have been developed but for this initiative. While we commenced operation under a temporary certificate on January 6, 2015, our work is just beginning.”
Recommended practices outlined in the certification process include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team for implementing daily operations of the specialized docket. The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.
“We welcome anyone interested in helping to contact the court and to attend the status review hearings for participants the first and third Friday of each month in the Clinton County Common Pleas Courtroom at 1:30 p.m.,” Judge Rudduck said.
The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members who advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the promotion of 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.