Andrea Boxill, a specialty docket coordinator with the Franklin County Municipal Court, explains “Catch Court” to SJI board members.

Andrea Boxill, a specialty docket coordinator with the Franklin County Municipal Court, explains “Catch Court” to SJI board members.

Members of the State Justice Institute (SJI) met with Ohio court employees today during an SJI board meeting. The group meets four times a year, but only one time a year away from its Virginia headquarters, to discuss upcoming grant opportunities.

SJI is a non-profit corporation established by federal law in 1984 to award grants to courts across the nation. The grants are to improve the quality of justice in courts, facilitate better coordination between state and federal courts, and to find solutions for issues faced by all courts.  SJI is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

“It’s an honor for SJI to be here at the Ohio Supreme Court,” said Steven C. Hollon, Ohio Supreme Court Administrative Director. “As hosts, SJI board members were able to hear about Ohio courts including their challenges, how they’ve used or are currently using SJI grants, and how SJI can continue to provide additional assistance throughout the upcoming years.”

One program the Ohio Supreme Court highlighted was “Catch Court” out of Franklin County. The program helps prostitutes who struggle with addiction to make their way back into society with the help of meetings with a judge. The women and men also have to meet certain requirements. Once the candidates graduate, their records are expunged.  One of SJI’s “priority investment areas” is human trafficking.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor spoke to the SJI members about how SJI grants and data-driven approach have helped Ohio communities.

“Clearly this board understands the importance of having that data on hand as well as the need for funding to improve the quality of justice in state courts, facilitate better coordination between state and federal courts, and fostering innovative, efficient solutions to common issues faced by all courts,” Chief Justice O’Connor said. “Thank you for fulfilling that mission of funding and considering several projects in Ohio that will result in furthering the efficient administration of justice in our state.”

SJI grants have already funded three completed projects in Ohio:

• A $50,000 grant to the Cleveland Municipal Court to enable the National Center for State Courts to conduct an operational assessment of the courts to address the allocation of recourses in all administrative departments.
• A $25,000 grant to the Franklin County Common Pleas court for a salary and benefits compensation study to provide internal equity, promote external competitiveness, and establish a base plan that could be modeled by other urban areas.
• A $50,000 grant to the Mahoning County Bar Association, on behalf of its four local courts, to contract with NCSC to study potential court consolation.

Two SJI grants are currently in progress in Ohio:

• A $50,000 grant to the Barberton Municipal Court to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its facilities, focusing on functionality, public safety, and security issues. The court intends to use the information to identify weaknesses of the current facilities and provide a blueprint for the design of a new justice facility.
• A $20,800 grant to the Ohio Supreme Court to host a statewide Domestic Relations Summit to provide a forum for domestic relations judges and their justice system partners.