Skip to main content

Turning around lives one child at a time.

About the Court

Vision Statement: Summit County Juvenile Court strives to serve the best interests of Summit County children through outreach, early intervention, community education, and innovative programming while administering justice fairly to those impacted by the juvenile justice system. 

Summit County Juvenile Court Building Exterior

Our Commitment to Reform

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a juvenile justice reform model founded by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and backed by the Ohio Department of Youth Services, that has proven effective in safely reducing juvenile detention populations and spurring broader system advancements. 

Deep End Reform: Summit County is one of three counties in the State of Ohio to expand its reform practices to the juvenile justice system's deep end (dispositional end). This expanded focus on reform concentrates on safely and significantly reducing out-of-home placements for youth, especially youth of color.

Annie E. Casey Foundation Logo 2

Certified Specialized Dockets

Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior. More information about the specialized dockets at the Summit County Juvenile Court can be found below.

Supreme Court of Ohio Seal

Family Reunification through Recovery Court (FRRC)

Family Reunification through Recovery Court (FRRC) is a Supreme Court of Ohio certified specialized docket of the court that exists to quickly, creatively, and effectively partner with court-involved families in which substance use is a contributing issue to Summit County Children Services’ removal of a child/children from home, and to address substance misuse and other family challenges to create a healthy, stable home environment that allows the family to permanently reunify. A comprehensive system of services is utilized through a partnership with Summit County Children Services and several local mental health, substance abuse treatment, and social service provider agencies to achieve goals. Weekly treatment team meetings and review hearings are held to ensure participant engagement, program compliance, and advancement toward rehabilitation and reunification with their children.

Crossroads

Crossroads is a Supreme Court of Ohio certified specialized docket dedicated to cases involving youth participating in intensive probation service for juvenile offenders with a mental health diagnosis, a substance use disorder, or both (dual diagnosis). Through Crossroads, the court partners with community-based service providers to offer youth and families treatment for mental health challenges and substance use disorders. A treatment team, consisting of representatives from local mental health and drug and alcohol treatment agencies, meets weekly to assure that Crossroads involved juveniles are receiving the appropriate level of care. To ensure compliance, youth and family members must appear periodically before court officials for reviews. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, youth participants who complete the specialized docket curriculum may be eligible to have the charges that brought them to the attention of the court dismissed and sealed.

Restore Court

Restore Court is a Supreme Court of Ohio certified specialized docket that exists to divert juvenile victims of human trafficking from the justice system to a safe, supportive, and comprehensive system of restorative care. Participating youth may receive services through Safe Harbor Diversion through which, qualifying charges may be dismissed upon completion, a more traditional probation track or intensive case management, mentoring and other services provided by Restore staff to youth identified as being at high risk to become victims. Summit County Department of Job and Family Services provides funding for services. In all these scenarios, caregivers are also encouraged to participate and offered services to meet the needs of the family.

Restore Court services empower youth/families involved in human trafficking and those at high risk to achieve successful lives. The program combines evidence-based practices, such as trauma informed treatment and substance abuse counseling with services and activities that promote connection, healing, and self-worth as a way of intervening and diverting youth from the path as early as possible.

Go to top of page

Accessing our website tells us you agree to our use of cookies. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time.
Privacy Policy