WARREN — A workshop in the courtroom of Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice last week invited legal counsel and community organizations to give input on a new re-entry docket.

Rice said the intention will be to reintegrate inmates into society by helping them connect with resources and, as a result, help them avoid reoffending.

“There’s not a lot of supervision for somebody getting out of jail or prison,” Rice said. “The docket is designed to help get them in touch with housing agencies, drug and mental health treatment, along with getting them back on their feet.”

The judge, known for his “tough love” approach on the bench, hopes the program cuts into the recidivism rate, which in turn will lead to fewer people stepping foot in his courtroom. A priority in making that reality means addressing the underlying reasons that brought them there in the first place.

“It’s a lack of family support, no income, substance abuse,” Rice said. “And I don’t care who the person is, if they don’t fix those conditions, they have no chance.”

Among those in the room that day were probation officers, legal counsel, mental health and substance treatment representatives, along with employment agencies that could help inmates find work after being locked up.

Adam D’Apolito is case manager with Flying High, a nonprofit organization that assists people with overcoming their barriers to securing employment.

D’Apolito said the organization strives to meet the whole needs of individuals they encounter.

“Our programs are developed as we see the need walk in the door,” D’Apolito said. “Some people came to us without a GED so we started a program, or they can’t pass a drug screening so we have drug and alcohol treatment providers now.”

Despite the full vision not being drawn out yet, D’Apolito believes the docket could be a step toward making the criminal justice system more rehabilitative by addressing the needs that commonly plague offenders. One of those needs is employment prospects.

According to Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 60 percent of the formerly incarcerated reported struggling to find employment after their release.

“In the end, it’ll help inmates that make it to the docket get set up with a ton of resources to help make them productive members of society again,” D’Apolito said.

PROGRAM ENTRY

With the program in its infancy, more time will be needed to outline the criteria on how one becomes eligible to be referred to the program.

But, Rice said people can be referred by any of the four common pleas judges or by legal counsel to then be reviewed by a committee to decide who gets accepted or denied.

For inmates who get accepted in the program, they can get released early and allow the remainder of their sentence to go toward their time in the program.

Participants who fail the program are sent back to their presiding judge with more time potentially being added to their sentence.

“We don’t do a lot of positive things in the courtroom but it’s nice to be able to help people get back on their feet and try to get them the help that puts them on the right track,” Rice said.

Rice welcomed those participating in the meeting to attend a hearing of a program at common pleas court in Canton where they’ll get a glimpse of what the future of the docket could entail.