Akron, Ohio – Administrative Judge Amy Corrigall Jones, Summit County Common Pleas Court General Division, announced today the Court’s most recent pilot program, the Arraignment Support and Advocacy Program (ASAP).

ASAP provides people charged with fourth and fifth degree felony drug or alcohol offenses with the opportunity to speak to a peer recovery coach at arraignment. Catholic Charities will provide the state certified recovery coaches for ASAP.

The court plans to pilot the program for one year.  If successful, ASAP may be expanded to include more charges and to assist people who are arraigned via video from the Summit County Jail.

ASAP was the idea of court employee Chris Stahr, the community development  for Valor Court, a veterans treatment court.   “Through ASAP, we hope to make a positive difference in the lives of people that end up in the criminal justice system,” said Stahr.

Administrative Judge Amy Corrigall Jones supported Stahr’s idea. “We are seeing more and more people struggling with addiction, that has ultimately landed them in the criminal justice system,” said Jones.   “ASAP has great potential in quickly bringing needed support to defendants to help them begin the process of dealing with their addiction,” concluded Corrigall Jones.

David Monter, the program administrator for Catholic Charities’ Recovery Support Services, told the Beacon Journal he is excited to be part of the new court effort.  “I’m pretty certain we will make a big difference,” said Monter.

For additional information about the seminar, contact Chris Stahr at cstahr@cpcourt.summitoh.net or 330.643.6449.

A link to this article can be found at:  https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200218/new-court-program-aims-to-help-addicts-others-asap

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Contact:         Susan Sweeney, Esq.

Assistant Court Executive Officer

330.643.7840

ssweeney@cpcourt.summitoh.net