Summit County Domestic Violence Intervention Court
Judge Kathryn Michael, Presiding
The Summit County Domestic Violence Intervention Court is a community collaboration between the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Victim Assistance Program, Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties, Summit Psychological Associates, Inc., and the United Way of Summit County. It is the first specialized felony Domestic Violence Court in Ohio. Presided over by Judge Kathryn Michael, the Court provides services for domestic violence offenders and their victims through a combination of Intensive Court Supervision and victim support.
Certified Specialized Docket
The Domestic Violence Intervention Court handles felony crimes of domestic violence and violation of protection order cases between intimate partners. “Intimate partners” are defined as current and former spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, partners who live together, and people who have a child in common. In 2019, the Supreme Court of Ohio certified Summit County’s Domestic Violence Intervention Court as a Domestic Violence specialized docket.
Intensive Supervision
Intensive Supervision is an alternative to prison that seeks to rehabilitate likely repeat offenders. Failure to complete assigned Intensive Supervision requirements results in gradual sanctions, which may also lead to a prison sentence.
Requirements include:
- Batterer’s intervention program
- Substance abuse treatment
- Random drug testing as well as an expectation that participants will refrain from alcohol and unauthorized prescription drug use
- Mental Health Treatment
- Regular sessions with assigned probation officer
- Regular court sessions presided by Judge Michael
Objectives of DV Court:
- Break the cycle of generational domestic violence
- Hold offenders accountable
- Increase victims’ safety
- Provide specialized treatment for offenders who are ready to end the cycle of generational domestic violence
Program Specific Screening Process
At arraignment in the Common Pleas Court, the Magistrate identifies offenders facing a charge of domestic violence or a related offenses and refers the offender to the Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Intervention Court Program. The Coordinator then pre-screens the offender for eligibility to participate in the Domestic Violence Intervention Court Program.
During the pre-screening, a risk assessment is administered to determine an offender’s risk of committing future domestic violence-type offenses. A risk assessment will also be administrated to assess future criminological activity. Consideration for full screening for the Domestic Violence Intervention Court Program and Track placement is based on factors that include but are not limited to: offender accountability and willingness to participate in the Domestic Violence Intervention Court Program; an offender’s risk level; an offender’s prior history of domestic violence; the level of injury at issue in the allegations; and other factors which the Domestic Violence Intervention Court Team consider to assess the offender’s amenability to community control.
Domestic Violence Intervention Court Team
The Domestic Violence Intervention Court Team meets weekly to discuss program participants and their compliance with programming. The team consists of Judge Michael, probation officers, prosecutors, representatives from Summit Psychological Associates, and representatives from the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina County. Judge Michael meets with each participant in the program at regular intervals to hold participants accountable, reinforce positive behavior and compliance with the offender’s program objectives, and to impose graduated sanctions for non-compliance.
Domestic Violence Intervention Court Program– 3 Tracks Available
Track 1:
- High Risk/Intensive Supervision
- A three (3) year Intensive Probation Program
- Regular Status Calls
- 52-week Batterer’s Intervention Program (BIP)
- Offender specific mental health and substance abuse treatment
Track 2:
- Moderate Risk Supervision
- A two (2) year Intensive Probation Program
- Regular Status Call
- 26-week Conflict Solutions
- Offender specific mental health and substance abuse treatment
Female Track:
- Specialty supervision focusing on female offender specific issues, including prior victimization, post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, mental health, and substance abuse issues.