Lorain County Domestic Relations Court

Lorain County
Domestic Relations Court
The Court
Lorain County Justice Center
225 Court Street
2nd and 4th Floor
Elyria, Ohio 44035
Off Site Locations
Juvenile Facilities Complex:
Pathways, 1076 Infirmary Road
Stepping Stone, 1064 Infirmary Road
Turning Point, 1080 Infirmary Road
Multi-Purpose/Administration, 1070 Infirmary Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035
Boys and Girls Detention Home, 9967 S. Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035
http://loraincounty.com/domesticrelations/
JUDGES
Judge Debra Boros
Judge Frank Janik
Judge Lisa Swenski
Mission Statement
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The primary goal of the Juvenile Court is to
reform and deter delinquent behavior.
Unlike the adult system, punishment is not
the focus.
Serve the citizens of Lorain County in a fair
and timely fashion
Provide “best practice” solutions and
programming to families.
How can the public
access court services?
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Unofficial Complaints
-These “pink” sheets can be submitted by parents/legal
guardians or members of the community (School Officials,
LCCS, Probation Officers).
- Reviewed by the Intake Department for consideration of a
STATUS offense.
- If complaint includes element of a crime, it will be forwarded
to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.
- However, the Prosecutor’s Office is reluctant to file a
delinquency charge solely based on a citizen complaint.
Police should be called for community incidents (ex.:
neighbors disputes and foster parent concerns)
Police/Law Enforcement
The majority of complaints in Juvenile Court
result from police reports. Police can refer a
juvenile to the Court by certifying their reports
to either:
- Lorain County Juvenile Court for “Status”
offenses (Violations of Probation, Violations of
Parole, Tobacco Violations, Curfew, Unruly/
Ungovernable)
OR
- Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office for
Delinquency offenses.
School to Court Referrals
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School officials can officially refer the child after 5
unexcused absences.
Attendance Officers will investigate, monitor the
attendance and provide interventions to address
issues that interfere with attendance.
Conferences are held by the Attendance Officers
with the child, parent, principal and/or the
superintendant (through a step-by-step process)
Officers will prepare the case for prosecution after
15 unexcused absences.
Prosecution of parent and/or child will be
determined by the Lorain County Prosecutor.
The Attendance Officers may utilize Pro-Se
Mediation through the Court’s Mediation Program.
If the child is over the age of 10, mediation is
between the parent and child. If under the age of
10, the Attendance Officer develops a case plan for
the parent.
Families may also be referred for In-Home
Behavioral Therapy (IHBT) through a local provider
Contact Information
Court Attendance Officers
Dale Bruder (440) 326-4875
(Lorain: Lorain High grades 9-10, Longfellow,
Hawthorne, Washington, Larkmoor)
Alex Heir (440) 326-4871
(Lorain: Lorain High grade 11, New Beginnings, Admiral
King, Toni Morrison, Frank Jacinto, Garfield)
All attendance officers
will serve the following:
Lorain County Academy, Education
Alternatives, PEP (Positive Education
Program)
Jesse Ball (440) 326-4877
(Oberlin, Clearview, Avon, Avon Lake)
Brandy Signor (440) 326-4864
(Midview, Sheffield/Sheffield Lake, Keystone,
Columbia)
Mechelle Cave (440) 326-4879
(JVS, North Ridgeville, Wellington, Firelands)
Adam Kappa (440) 326-4872
(Lorain: Lorain High grade 12, Credit Recovery,
General Johnnie Wilson, Palm, Helen Steiner-Rice,
Dahonas)
Attendance Program Contacts
Patricia Jacobs, Program Manager
(440) 326-4873
Don Robinson, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office
(440) 329-5286
Legal Process
Complaint is Alleged /
Police Report is Filed
Child is admitted into the DH;
Charges are filed
by the Prosecutor’s Office and
a hearing is held within 24 hours to
advise parent/child of the charges
and their legal rights
Child is not admitted into the DH;
Charges are filed officially
by the Prosecutor’s Office
Given a summons to appear
at a future Court date.
Child is not charged officially
and may be given an opportunity
to complete a
Diversion Program
Youth
ADMITS
to the charges
as alleged
in the Complaint
Case may be
referred to the
Investigation &
Referral Team
for case plan &
recommendations
The Court may
impose an
immediate
dispositional
order (probation,
Comm. service,
Counseling)
Youth
DENIES
the charges as
alleged in the
Complaint
Case will be set
for Pre-Trial,
an attorney
may be
requested,
matter continued.
Youth may be
released from
the DH pending
Pre-trial; may be
placed on
In-Home
Detention for
Supervision.
Referred for
evaluations
(Psychological,
Psychiatric,
D/A, IQ)
Referred for
possible
out-of-home
placement
Referral
to the
I&R
Team
Present the case
to the Children’s
Continuum of
Care Committee
at LCBMH
Referral to
most
appropriate
program to
address
needs & risk
Contact Information
 Investigation
& Referral Team
Anna Cacchione, Prog. Manager: (440) 329-5656
Heather Melendez, Education-Prevention Specialist: (440) 329-5249
Jim Carroll, Case Planner: (440) 328-2212
Giovanna Reising, Case Planner: (440) 329-5730
Jennifer Drake, Case Planner: (440) 329-5603
Jean Frantz, Case Planner: (440) 329-5262
Intake Department
Responsible for DH
admissions 24 hrs/day
(determining remand/denial, speaking w/ law enforcement)
Conducts Unofficial hearings as well
as hearings for Shoplifting and Unruly Behavior
Responsible for Diversion Program
(tracking referrals and compliance)
Refers youth to I&R; In-home Detention;
Catholic Charities Teen Domestic Violence group;
Parenting programs and any other program
as deemed appropriate
Community
Control
General
Probation
General
Community
Control
Specialized
Services
Sex
Offender
Unit
MI-DD &
Bellefaire
JOP
Community
Intervention
Program
Success
For Youth
Status
Probation
Monitored
Time
Contact Information
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Chief Probation Officer
Patricia Wilson (440) 326-4888
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General Community Control/Sex Offender Unit
Edward Moore – (440) 329-5247 (Casework Supervisor)
Jerome Fisher - (440) 329-5702 - Lorain High, Clearview, General Johnnie Wilson, Vermilion
Mildred Gonzalez – (440) 329-5305 – Lorain High, Whittier, Longfellow, Sheffield/Sheffield Lake
Marci Murphy -(440)329-5702 – Avon, A. Lake, Columbia, Firelands, Keystone, Midv., N. Ridgeville, W Ex.
Drew Coleman – (440) 329-5543 – Elyria, Oberlin
Sex Offenses: Jeff Keiper – (440) 326-4891
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Monitored Time Probation
Nancie Murello – (440) 329-5245 (Supervisor)
Erica Szilagyi – 326-4885
Tim Workman – 329-5194
Contact Information
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Specialized Services
Jennifer Kerns – (440) 328-2213 (Supervisor)
Success For Youth: George Harris – (440) 326-4884
MH/MI/JOP: Steve Medvetz – (440) 326-4890 and Jim Rufo – (440) 329-5248
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Status Probation/Diversion
Nancie Murello – (440) 329-5245 (Casework Supervisor)
Andrea Delp – (440) 326-4006
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Community Intervention Program
Donna Rivera-Wells, Prog. Mgr. – (440) 326-4874
Tom Adelsberg, Deputy Prog. Manager – (440) 326-4876
Maria Davis, Clerk – (440) 326-4870
Courtney Burns, CCO – (440) 326-4887
Amanda Snider, CCO – (440) 326-4847
Micah Gibbs, Assistant – (440) 326-4894
Luis Quinones, Assistant – (440) 326-4839
Specialized Dockets
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Juvenile Drug Court
-Rewards based program for
juveniles who have been
adjudicated delinquent and
have significant drug and
alcohol issues.
-Weekly Court sessions to discuss
progress and monitor school
progress, drug/alcohol
treatment needs, parental
concerns and all other case plan
components.
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Family Drug Court
-Family Drug Court assists clients of
Lorain County Children Services
(LCCS) who are drug/alcohol
dependent and their children
have either been adjudicated
abused, neglected or dependent,
or the clients are involved with
LCCS on unofficial/In-Home
cases.
-Participation in Family Drug Court
is voluntary, but expected once
accepted in program.
-Parents of the youth in the program
are held accountable for their
own substance issues and
encourage to attend treatment
of their own, if deemed
necessary.
-Weekly court hearings as well as
participation in any services
deemed appropriate by the Drug
Court Team.
-Successful completion results in a
graduation ceremony and
dismissal of charges (via an
agreement with the Lorain
County Prosecutor’s Office).
-The ultimate goals are for
participants to retain or regain
custody of their children,
working towards completion of
the case plan components, and
maintaining sobriety.
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Mental Health Court
-A voluntary program that targets
youth with serious mental
health concerns.
-Weekly Court sessions to discuss
and monitor school progress,
treatment needs, medication
protocols, parental concerns
and all other individual case
plan components.
-Focuses on improving the youth’s
behavioral and emotional
functioning and strengthens
the family’s ability to care for
the child within the home,
reducing the risk for out of
home placement.
-Successful completion results in a
graduation ceremony and
dismissal of charges (via an
agreement with the Lorain
County Prosecutor’s Office).
Residential Services
Juvenile Facilities Complex
Multi-Purpose Building
(offices, meeting rooms)
Turning Point Shelter
Pathways Group Home for Girls &
Stepping Stone Residential Center for Boys
Residential Services
Pathways Group Home (for Girls) & Stepping Stone Residential Center (for Boys)
• Staff secure for youth ages 13-17
• Licensed and monitored by the Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services
• 10 Females & 20 males are allotted in the Residential Phase of the program (21 weeks).
• Transitioned back into the home through short-incremental visits, leading to an Aftercare
(where youth is monitored on a regular basis when returned home).
phase
• Case plans address risk, needs, familial concerns, substance abuse, vocational skills and education.
Turning Point Shelter
• A non-secure residential facility providing short-term care (maximum 14 days) for 5 males and 5
females ages 12-17.
• 24-hour supervision and guidance by trained child-care staff
• A social worker provides support services to the juveniles and their families via program referrals.
The goal is to assist the family in preventing further official court involvement.
• Admissions to the shelter are approved by the Intake Department or via judicial orders.
Contact Information
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In-Home Detention
John Matakovich, Prog. Mgr. – (440) 326-4017
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Seth Riley, Asst. – (440) 326-4016
Juvenile Drug Court
Michelle Grove, Program Supervisor – (440) 326-4074
Dawn Lucey, CCO – (440) 326-4072
Bryan Wootten, Assistant – (440) 326-4072
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Family Drug Court
Jennifer Kerns, Program Coordinator – (440) 328-2213
Martina Sheridan, LCCS Liaison/CQI Supervisor– (440) 329-5340
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Mental Health Court
Jim Rufo, CCO – (440) 326-4890
Jennifer Kerns, Program Coordinator – (440) 328-2213
Anna Cacchione, I&R Program Manager - (440) 329-5656
Jessica Ryan, Director of Lorain Programs for Beech Brook – (440) 324-4980
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Residential Facilities
Michelle Grove, Program Supervisor – (440) 326-4074
Matt Koch, CCO – (440) 326-4075
Paul Doseck, CCO – (440) 326-4073
Department of Support Services
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This department provides services and
support to the community and court staff.
The department is comprised of the
following:
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The Pay-Back Program
Community Service Program
Voices for Children
Assignment commissioners
Juvenile clerks
Systems management
Payback Program
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The Pay-Back Program has 4 objectives:
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Ensure the offender’s compliance with Court orders
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Provide a work experience that allows the offender to make restitution
(allowable up to $500)
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Provide victims with access to the Court for reasonable redress
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Facilitate communication between the Court and all involved parties: i.e.
victims, prosecutors, insurance companies, etc.
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Restitution collected:
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Monies collected in 2012 : $18,355.15
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Work for Pay monies collected : $6,208.92 (a total of 1,285.50 hours worked)
Community Service Program
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The Program manager is creative
in finding and developing sites for
juveniles to fulfill their
community service obligation.
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Works closely with Probation, the
Judicial staff, parents and the
general public in monitoring and
tracking completion of court
ordered community service.
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In 2012, 490 youth were ordered
to complete community service. A
total of 7782 hours were ordered.
Voices for Children
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Voices for Children’s purpose is to provide a guardian ad
litem (GAL) to the Court to advocate on behalf of the
abused, neglected, and dependent children coming before it.
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The GAL volunteer undertakes an investigation into the
circumstances and family life of the child. They review
records, interview parents, relatives and foster parents, talk
to teachers, neighbors and most importantly, the child.
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Upon completion of the investigation, the GAL appears in
court, provides the information and makes a
recommendation to the Court as to what course of action is
in the best interest of the child.
Contact Information
PayBack Program (Restitution)
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Lisa Taliano, Program Manager: (440) 329-5237 or (440) 329-5451
Community Service Program
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Lisa Taliano, Program Manager: (440) 329-5237
Voices For Children
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Timothy Green, Program Manager: (440) 329-5556
Ed Wacker: (440) 329-5158
Traci Stamco: (440) 329-5197