1. Stark County Court
of Common Pleas
General Division
Specialized Docket
Guide
Specialized Dockets are courts that are
dedicated to specific types of offenses.
Honor Court for Veterans*
Honor Court provides increased management to veterans
and active duty military personnel in the criminal justice
system. Individualized judicial oversight with regular court
appearances before a treatment team and peer veteran
mentoring program foster successful completion of
probation and draw upon the codes of honor and service
instilled in the participants during their military service to
our nation. Honor Court can be completed in a minimum of
12 months, maximum 24 months.
Honor Court Tracks:
1. Diversion: non-violent, fourth/fifth degree
probationable felony charges, resulting in dismissal and
sealing of case upon completion of program.
2. Community Control: all other charges that meet
admission criteria for Intensive Supervised Probation,
resulting in successful discharge from probation after
one year, upon completion of program.
3. Judicial Release: meet criteria for judicial release, ISP, or
post-release control, resulting in successful discharge
from probation after one year, upon completion of
program.
Admission Criteria:
 Defendant must be a Veteran or active duty service
member of the U.S .Military:
o Having served in the armed forces (Army,
Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,
National Guard, Reserves)
o Must have completed basic training
 Enters a plea of Guilty to the offence(s) and signs
waivers, agreements, and releases
 Stark County Resident
Automatic Exclusions:
 Convicted Sex Offenders
 Dishonorable Discharges/Bad Conduct Status from
U.S. Military
 Restitution over $2,500.00 ordered by the Court at
sentencing hearing
 Prior UN-Successful Termination from Honor Court
Diversion Track Exclusions:
 Prior felony offenses of violence or prior participation
in a diversion program
 Unwillingness to permanently release firearms
confiscated or used in the current offense)
For referrals and/or questions:
Contact the Honor Court Program Director
(330) 451-7708
Instructions upon referral to Honor Court:
Immediately after sentencing have your client report to:
The ISP Probation Office
201 Cleveland Ave. S.W., Ste. 103 (Bow Building)
Canton, OH 44702
(330)451-7347
Domestic Violence Court
The Domestic Violence Court is a minimum year-long
treatment program for Domestic Violence Offenders. It is
the philosophy of the program that a comprehensive
approach will be used to assist individuals in becoming
responsible, non-violent, contributing members of society.
The Program includes regular Court appearances,
submission of random drug screens, attendance at group
counseling sessions, regular meetings with the probation
officer, community service work, GED classes and
vocational/educational assistance and periods of
electronically monitored house arrest.
Admission Criteria:
 Charged with a domestic violence or related offense
that does not carry a mandatory prison term.
 The victim is an intimate partner
 The defendant would benefit from Batterer’s
Intervention.
Automatic Exclusions:
 Defendant is not a Stark County Resident.
 Defendant has a physical, developmental, or mental
health disability that would prevent them from
receiving maximum benefit from programming.
 Defendant is not amenable to treatment and
participation in the program.
For referrals and/or questions:
Contact the Day Reporting Program Director
(330) 451-7036 ext. 5112
Instructions upon referral to DV Court:
Immediately after sentencing have your client report to:
The ISP Probation Office
201 Cleveland Ave SW, Ste. 103 (Bow Building)
Canton, OH 44702
(330)451-7347
*Denotes Diversionary Court or
Programming
Judge Judge Judge
Kristin G. Farmer Frank G. Forchione John G. Haas
Judge Judge
Chryssa N. Hartnett Taryn L. Heath

2. H.O.P.E. Track
The H.O.P.E. (Helping Offenders Psychologically and
Emotionally) Track provides a cooperative and
coordinated solution between community mental
health providers and the criminal justice system. It
serves as an alternative to prison for individuals
involved with the Court of Common Pleas.
Admission Criteria:
 Stark County resident
 History of mental health treatment
 Diagnosis of severe and persistent mental
illness such as; schizophrenia, psychotic
disorder, mood or anxiety disorder
 Offender could benefit from receiving
outpatient mental health services
For referrals and/or questions:
Contact the Deputy Court Administrator
(330) 451-7931
Instructions upon referral to H.O.P.E. Track:
Contact the Crisis Recovery Center to schedule an
assessment within 24 hours at (330) 455-9407.
Mental Health Intervention in
Lieu Program*
Ohio’s Intervention in Lieu of Conviction statute
(R.C.2951.041) allows for diversion treatment of
individuals who are mentally ill and the Court has
reason to believe the mental illness was factor leading
to the criminal behavior of the individual.
Admission Criteria:
 Offense must be probationable, non-
violent, felony, nothing more serious than a
3rd degree felony
 Offender is charge with an offense that
does not carry a mandatory jail sentence of
over 10 days
 Offender demonstrates an interest in and
willingness to participate in a 12 month
treatment program. This includes and
assessment by the Crisis Recovery Center.
 Stark County resident
 Restitution amount must be able to paid
within one year of treatment
For referrals and/or questions:
Contact the Day Reporting Director
(330) 451-7036 ext. 5112
Chance Program (Drug Court)* Reentry Court
The Stark County Court of Common Pleas Drug Court
(CHANCE) Program has been in operation since July of
1998 providing drug and alcohol treatment to low-level,
non-violent felony offenders who have committed drug
related or drug driven offenses. The program is a 12 month
treatment program where successful completion results in
sealing and dismissal of the charges. (Note: OVI charges
cannot be sealed; therefore companion felonies are
dismissed but not sealed).
Chance Tracks:
1. CHANCE- Regular Drug Court
2. Track II- for individuals who are charged with F5 Drug
trafficking or denied for regular CHANCE due to
evidence of Drug Trafficking at time of arrest.
Admission Criteria:
 Participant must be a Stark County resident
 Pending charge is eligible for diversion under ORC
2925.03
 Clinical assessment determines drug and alcohol
usage by the participant is a factor leading to the
offense and the defendant would benefit from
chemical dependency treatment.
 The participant must have no prior felony of violence
and have no evidence of a pattern of violent behavior
 The participant is capable and willing to participate in
the program.
Automatic Exclusions:
 Charge is not drug driven
 F1, F2, F3, or F4 Trafficking charges cannot be
considered.
For referrals and/or questions:
Contact the Drug Court Program Coordinator
(330) 451-7036 ext. 5117
Instructions upon referral to Drug Court:
The Drug Court and Track II referrals are initiated by the
Pre-Trial Services early in the process. Should the
Prosecutor’s Office approve admission, the client must
receive a chemical dependency assessment by the Drug
Court Program staff to insure they meet all legal and
clinical criteria. The client will receive reporting
instructions at their assessment if they meet criteria for the
program.
Reentry Court provides intensive oversight to offenders
transitioning from imprisonment to productive citizenship.
Each participant is monitored by a judge, parole/probation
officers, and Reentry staff members to assist with housing,
employment, and individualized treatment plans.
The program includes: regular court appearances (with
rewards and sanctions), submission to random drug
screens, referrals to and close supervision of compliance
with service providers, regular meetings with Reentry staff,
all in collaboration with the Adult Parole Authority and
Probation Officers.
In addition to an Individualized Community Plan for each
participant, particular attention is given to offender’s
appearance, attitude, and social behavior to overcome
stereotypes and to increase the likelihood of obtaining the
best employment and housing opportunities possible. On-
site job training and mentoring are also provided.
Reentry Tracks:
1. Reentry Court- highly-structured 9-18 month
program for high-risk offenders.
2. Community Stabilization Program (CSP) -
program for low and moderate risk offenders
with a minimum of 30 days of judicial interaction
until stable housing and employment and all
program requirements are met, with a 90-day
follow up period with Reentry staff.
Admission Criteria:
 Court ordered referral to Reentry Court
 Felony offenders sentenced to a State of Ohio
Correctional facility, originally sentenced in Stark
County
 Participants must demonstrate an interest in and
willingness to participate for 12-18 months
 Offenders must have at least 12-18 months of
monitored time or parole
 Low and moderate risk offenders must lack
employment and/or stable housing
Automatic Exclusions:
 Offenders who have not spent time in prison
For referrals and/or questions:
Reentry Court Program Director
(330)451-7118
Instructions upon referral to Reentry Court:
Immediately after sentencing have your client report to:
The Reentry Office
201 Cleveland Ave. SW Ste. 105 (Bow Building)
Canton, Ohio 44702