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In 2019, our Court is piloting two
new dockets. One docket will aid people
arrested with a gun, but they did not use
the gun in the commission of a crime.
This Violence Intervention Program Many Views,
(VIP) could help someone move past
the incident rather than derail them
with a felony gun charge. It will provide One Vision. J UdgES COrnEr
assistance with education, employment
and community mentors who understand
the societal pressure to carry a gun. We
are also exploring a Domestic Violence
Docket as a pilot program with the
assistance of the Ohio Supreme Court and
the Center for Court Innovation. I hope
to have more to share with you after we
gather some important data. This process
will strengthen early involvement of all
stakeholders in cases that qualify.
These dockets, and other evidence-
based efforts made by the Court, really
show a new face of the judicial system.
Courts are no longer only seen as a place
of punishment, but are now considered
agents of guidance and service to those
who come before us.
A good example of evidence-based
change is in our Adult Probation
Department. On an annual basis, our
department supervises more than 7,000 At Ulmer, a diverse and inclusive team enriches the
offenders, collects over three million work environment for everyone and is a catalyst for
dollars in restitution for victims of crime the creative solutions we deliver to our clients.
and performs more than 100,000 drug
tests in our Urinalysis Laboratory. By
taking an evidence-based approach,
we focus on assessing risk, identifying
needs, and working with clients to help
change behavior and divert them from Our business begins with you. ®
incarceration. Implementing these
practices re-integrates people into the
community as productive citizens.
Finally, our Court has increased its
community outreach and sought to provide CLEVELAND COLUMBUS CINCINNATI CHICAGO BOCA RATON ULMER.COM
assistance to those with nowhere else to
turn when faced with a legal matter. We
have partnered with organizations and goal is not only to protect the community,
courts throughout the county to promote but also to help those who have matters Hon. John J. Russo is the Administrative and
education and opportunities for those before us. Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
connected to the criminal justice system, Five years have gone by quickly. Much of Ohio in Cuyahoga County. Judge Russo has
and legal system as a whole. The Court has changed during that time, but the one been unanimously elected by his colleagues to lead
recently created a Resource Center to constant is the quality work of our Bench the Court every year since November 2013. He is
provide on-site service for people in the and dedicated staff. I look forward to what responsible for appointing committees, coordinating
legal system. We continue to coordinate we will accomplish this year, and continuing the development of Court policies, and overseeing the
with stakeholders in the justice system to into 2020 when a new Administrative Judge administration and dockets of the General Division,
create programs that divert people from takes over. Our Court should never stop the highest-level trial court in the state. He has been
jail. As a Court, we have many duties, but evolving and improving. Our face should a CMBA member since 1994. He can be reached
we want the public to understand that our never stop changing. at (216) 443-8676 or cpjr1@cuyahogacounty.us.
March 2019 Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal | 27