Probation Units
Community Service and Restitution
In some instances when juveniles are placed on probation the Jurists order the youth to complete community service hours. The purpose of youth completing community service hours is for youth to take accountability for their actions and repay their debt to society by completing volunteer hours in local communities throughout Cuyahoga County.
In other cases, when youth owe restitution to their victims they are able to participate in the Victim Aid Restitution Program (VARP) through their designated community service coordinator where they will be provided the opportunity to complete community service hours to repay the monetary value back to their victims. Youth can earn up to a total of $400.00 for restitution that will be paid directly back to their victims. Depending on the area in which the youth placed on probation resides, they will be designated a specific office where their probation officer as well as their community service coordinator are located.
The probation satellite offices are as follows: Southeast, University Circle, East Cleveland, Southwest and Nearwest.
Manager - Taronda Montgomery (216-698-4727)
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive family and community-based treatment that addresses the multiple influences that contribute to serious antisocial or illegal behavior in youth ages 12-17 years old. MST uses the strengths of each system to promote behavior change in the youth’s natural environment. The ultimate goal of MST is to empower parents, that is, assure they have or develop the skills and resources needed, to address the difficulties that arise in raising children and adolescents and to similarly empower youth to cope with family, peer, school and neighborhood problems.
Manager - Stephanie Kelly (216-443-8350)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based intensive day treatment program. This program is based on the curriculum “Thinking for a Change.” There are two distinctive parts to the curriculum. They are cognitive restructuring and social skill interventions which build upon one another to increase problem solving skills. The goal is for the youth to be able to generalize their new thinking and behavior into the community. The final stage of the programming is relapse prevention which enables the youth to target areas that they see may present challenges to them in the future.
Manager - Vickie Smith (216-443-3131)
School Based Probation
The mission of this unit is to provide planned intensive probation supervision within the immediate environment of the juvenile. The goals include: increasing parental involvement, developing close relationships with school staff, support staff and security to provide immediate response to youth’s needs and behaviors while assisting them in becoming more involved in their education and other pro-social activities. There are five schools in this unit: East Tech, Glenville, John F. Kennedy, Marshall, and Cleveland Heights High School.
Manager - Thomas Pipkin (216-926-2808)
Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice (BHJJ)
The unit services male or female probationers with a history of mental health and/or substance abuse issues. These issues should be impacting the youth’s ability to be successful. The purpose is to identify such youth and provide treatment and support within their community.
Manager - Melanie Miller (216) 443-3142
Placement After Care Unit
Residential Placement is out-of-home therapeutic placement for youth needing the most intensive level of services. Youth placed in residential treatment are typically juveniles who have not adjusted well to community-based services. The Court’s goal is to work with youth and their families in the least restrictive environment and to only place a youth out of home after community-based resources have been exhausted. Upon discharge, the youth and family are provided with court aftercare supervision. This is an intensive level of supervision that gradually gives the youth more freedom and responsibility.
Manager - Anthony Cook (216) 698-6578
Drug Court
Drug Court promotes healing between children and families whose lives have been affected by chemical dependency and substance abuse, by providing encouragement and assistance to each family unit. Drug court requires participates to attend regularly scheduled court appearances, see a case manager multiple times throughout the week, and submit to regular and random urine screens. Participants are also required to attend treatment for substance abuse and/or other identified concerns. Most youth spend about 9-12 months in the program while completing the 3 phases of the program. Upon completion of Drug Court, all charges will be dismissed, sealed and expunged. The Drug Court provides the needed support to motivate and direct youth in the struggle to maintain sobriety and improve the overall quality of life for families.
Manager - Taronda Montgomery (216-698-4727)
Mental Health Court
Mental Health Court works specifically with youth, if not for their mental health issues, probably wouldn’t be involved with the Juvenile Court. In addition, Mental Health Court works with youth that are experiencing mental health issues that have a direct, negative impact on their ability to function well at home, in school and in their community. Parental involvement is critical as youth and family are required to attend weekly hearings that occur at 3pm every Monday. The frequency of the hearings will depend on the individual youth and their progress throughout Mental Health Court.
Manager - Thomas Pipkin (216-926-2808)
Probation Support Services (PSS)
Once a youth is placed on probation, the youth and the family are directed to the Probation Support Services Unit immediately following the hearing. The PSS unit provides the 5 probation offices with the documented orders from the Jurist. This unit oversees/coordinates the Ohio Department of Youth Services Commitments by conducting initial interview with the family and travel arrangements through the Sheriff’s Department for the youth. When a Jurist has requested an investigation officer this unit will review the request and forward to the appropriate unit (special services/central investigations). This unit is also responsible for controlling family records, sealing/expungement records, obtaining police reports as well as reviewing and maintaining psychological evaluations. This unit also handles grievances as it relates the Probation process.
Manager - Gertrude Claybrooks (216-443-3538)
Investigations
The County Juvenile Court currently has 2 investigative probation units, Central Probation Investigations and Special Services Investigations. Central Investigations is a general investigative unit whereas Special Services Investigations primarily address the detention center population, inter-state and intra-state compact cases. The Probation Investigation units are responsible for conducting an initial risk assessment called the Ohio Youth Assessment System (O.Y.A.S. ) which measures the youth’s risk level in addition to preparing a report for the jurist that includes previous charges, family history, school performance, and mental health and substance abuse issues. The Investigative Probation Officer then writes a report detailing all of the collected information and presents conscientious recommendations to the jurist.
Special Services Investigations – Manager - Dennis Lascko (216-348-4490)
Central Investigations – Manager - Dave Buehner (216-443-3573)
Supervision
The Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court has 5 probation supervision units. Supervision Probation Officers are responsible for the ongoing monitoring of youth in the community. Supervisory Probation Officers conduct assessments and develop case plans with youth and families designed to lower the youth’s risk to offend again. Probation Officers engage in a variety of activities with youth and families including home visits, school visits, court hearings, community and collateral contacts. Probation Officers utilize a variety of graduated sanctions to correct negative behavior. Probation’s comprehensive scope utilizes a strength based approach while linking families with community based, mental health, neighborhood collaborative and community service activities. This is done so that youth and their families are provided natural supports to sustain the positive changes that the youth has made in order to eliminate further court involvement and reduce recidivism.
Supervision Probation Unit Managers are as follows:
- East Cleveland Regional 3 - LaTania Mullins (216-698-4554)
- University Circle Regional 4 - Jacqueline Lambert (216-443-5493)
- Near West - Barb Kohuth (216-698-2708)
- Southeast - Celeste Wainwright (216-443-5348)
- Southwest - Terance Palange (216-443-5379)