More than a dozen Ohio judges and attorneys presented testimony about the drug epidemic impacting their court systems to a committee made up of 10 General Assembly members.

Four Ohio judges from Warren, Highland, Cuyahoga, and Mahoning counties gave in-person statements and three others from across the Buckeye state submitted written testimony on September 9 to members of the Law Enforcement Perspectives on the Drug Epidemic & Its Impact on Families Study Committee at the University of Cincinnati.

The committee members listened to sentencing and prison issues for judges in dealing with the drug epidemic. Prosecutors from Butler and Hamilton counties also participated as well as Gary Mohr, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The committee members traveled across the state during the past month listening to testimony on how the drug epidemic affects educators, employers, law enforcement agencies, and the court system.  This was the last of four meetings held by the committee. Members also traveled to Marion, North Canton, and Wilmington. In Wilmington, the committee listened to how the city’s police officers charged 72 people with drug offenses after a year-long investigation.

The committee plans to submit a report to the General Assembly by the end of the year where they may submit legislation changes based on the testimony they heard.