YOUNGSTOWN New judge lauds program
The program is for misdemeanor offenders from all four area courts.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Just 10 weeks after launching a drug court for misdemeanor offenders in Mahoning County, Judge Theresa Dellick is walking away.
She started the court while presiding at the area court in Canfield but is leaving that post to become juvenile court judge, which is a division of common pleas court.
Judge Scott Hunter will pick up the drug court ball and run with it for the area courts once Judge Dellick moves to her new job.
"I think it's a wonderful program," Judge Hunter said. "I'm going to work hard."
Judge Dellick's last session of drug court was Wednesday.
Jail alternative: The idea behind drug court is to put people charged with drug-related crimes into a treatment program or rehabilitation instead of jail. That helps to ease overcrowding in jails and gives the defendants a chance to start over, Judge Dellick said.
The crimes do not have to be directly related to drugs, such as possessing or dealing them. They can include offenses such as thefts that are committed to support a drug habit. Only first-time offenders qualify.
Breaking dependency: Judge Hunter said he likes the concept of rehab instead of jail if there is a chance of turning that person's life around and breaking the cycle of drug dependency.
"When you see recidivism, you've got to get to the root of the underlying problem," he said. "If you can break that chain of dependency you could change that life."
Judge Dellick has said 40 percent to 60 percent of cases in the four area courts -- in Austintown, Boardman, Canfield and Sebring -- are linked to drugs. The courts are for people charged with traffic offenses and misdemeanor criminal violations.
Judge Hunter presides in Sebring but will move to the Canfield court once Judge Dellick leaves. That's where he'll hold drug court, but it's available to people who are charged in any of the area courts.
There is also a drug court at the common pleas level, where Judge Jack Durkin presides. It's for people charged with felony offenses and has been recognized as one of the best in the country.
Judge Dellick said the fledging program in the lower courts, which began Feb. 4, has about 10 participants and can grow up to 100.
Some people have the notion that drug court coddles people charged with criminal offenses, but that's not true, Judge Hunter said.
"There is praise if you follow through on what you commit to do, but there is punishment if you don't," he said. If a participant lapses back into drug use, he or she is tossed out of the program and put back into the regular court system to face a traditional penalty.
He won't have time to take any special training for the position.
"I don't think I need that to do a good job," Judge Hunter said.
Thoughts on leaving: Leaving behind the drug court she got off the ground after a year of planning is bittersweet for Judge Dellick.
"The one thing that makes it more sweet than bitter is that we are in the process of preparing a grant to start a drug court at the juvenile level," she said.
County officials have long wanted to start a drug court in juvenile court so it is an option to people at all points of entry into the court system.
Her experience in building the drug court in Canfield will be a valuable asset in starting one at juvenile court, she said.