Court News
SIDNEY DAILY NEWS PROGRESS REPORT
SHELBY COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT
January, 2012
I am pleased to report that 2011 finally saw the implementation of on-line access to court public records. Most court records are generally available for public inspection and copying. Traditionally that required a trek to the courthouse to request from the Clerk of Courts the file for review. For persons outside the county that could require considerable time and expense. I encouraged and worked with Clerk of Courts Michele Mumford over the last couple of years to provide remote access to public records. I did so because I believe that since court records are required to be available to the public that we have a responsibility to make it as convenient as possible to view those records. Now, with on-line access, searches can be done from the convenience of home or office.
Records may be searched by accessing either the Common Pleas Court website: http://co.shelby.oh.us/CommonPleasCourt/index.asp or the Clerk of Courts website: http://co.shelby.oh.us/ClerkofCourts/index.asp and clicking on the “Records Search” tab to perform a search to inspect public court files.
After every jury trial, the court mails a survey to jurors asking for input about jury service. One consistent comment over the last several years has been the inadequacy of the video presentation equipment for use during trial. Because of these comments, the court this year used special projects funds to upgrade the equipment in the courtroom. The court now has a built in projection screen, video cameras, and computer connections which allow the judge and attorneys to make presentations to the jury.
New and reopened criminal, civil and domestic cases filed in 2011 totaled 1,219. This is a decrease of 9 cases from 2010. The civil caseload decreased by 102 cases from 2010. Of the 481 new and reactivated civil filings, 280 of those, or 58%, were mortgage foreclosures. On a positive note, there was a decrease of 21 foreclosure filings for Shelby County. Criminal cases prosecuted during 2011 totaled 341, which is an increase of 70 cases from 2010.
In domestic relations, new divorces and dissolutions filed in 2011 totaled 228. A total of 115 cases were reopened, which includes support modifications, changes of custody, visitation and property issues. The domestic caseload showed an increase of 23 cases from 2010 to 2011. 473 hearings were held in DR Court, 145 people attended the Parenting Program and 66 Civil Protection Orders were filed.
In April 2011, the adult probation department held its first drug blitz which proved successful. During the drug blitz, 119 probationers were surprise drug tested. The officers arrested 21 probationers for positive drug tests. Six more arrests were made that day in the field during home visits for various charges.
In September 2011, the adult probation department assisted the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals in sex offender compliance checks. During these compliance checks, one offender was arrested for possessing pornographic material and abusing harmful intoxicants.
The Shelby County Adult Probation Department is monitoring 310 offenders placed on community control by the Shelby County Common Pleas Court. There are 3 full-time probation officers and one part-time probation officer in the department, one of which is an intensive supervision officer funded by the CCA grant. From January 1, 2011 through December 14, 2011, the probation officers performed 161 home visits, handled 3,827 office visits, and 1,349 collateral contacts (telephone contacts, counsel, employment, education, etc.). The department prepared 73 judicial release reports for the Judge, filed 130 probation violations and gave 946 drug tests to probationers.
Although budget constraints continue to be challenging, the court has been able to move forward providing efficient and effective services to the citizens of Shelby County.
James Stevenson
Judge
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