Summit County, Ohio: Summit County Common Pleas Court Administrative Judge Amy Corrigall Jones is pleased to announce the General Division has named Kerri A. Defibaugh as the Summit County Adult Probation Department Director of Offender Services.

“The General Division is committed to increasing the effectiveness of the Summit County Adult Probation Department. The Court has become critically involved in ensuring this department is performing exceptionally and to that end, received grant funding for the National Center for State Courts to complete an assessment of the Department,” stated Judge Jones.

“NCSC evaluated alignment with best practices for probation and pretrial services by assessing the current structure, policies, and practices of the department and their findings supported the need for an active, engaged and strong leader which we have found in Ms. Defibaugh. The Court expects the operation of a model probation department and we are confident Director Defibaugh will meet our expectations as she has developed a wide range of knowledge and skills during her 16 years of criminal justice experience.” concluded Jones.

Defibaugh’s appointment is effective June 4, 2018, and as Director, she is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Department of 64 employees and managing a multimillion dollar budget.

“I am honored to serve as the Director of Offender Services and excited to get to work,” stated Defibaugh.

“I accepted this role for the professional challenges it will bring. Using the information provided by the National Center to guide decisions and produce outcomes that probation clients, victims, the community, and the Court expects, I look forward to moving this Department to a level of professionalism and service that has never been seen before,” continued Defibaugh.

“I have led our Pretrial Services Department, nationally known for its progressive stance in the pretrial felony stage, and look forward to leading the Summit County Adult Probation Department to becoming a nationally recognized model for probation services,” concluded Defibaugh.

Director Defibaugh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Akron and currently serves as an At Large Board Member for the Ohio Association of Pretrial Services. Director Defibaugh has been acknowledged for her work in the field of Pretrial Services, having provided direction to courts engaging in pretrial services and presenting statewide on the issue of Pretrial Services and bail reform.