Hilliard Recovery Court
Dawn Steele [Vice President of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society] serves as the City Prosecutor for Hilliard and is a key figure in the Hilliard Recovery Court, an initiative launched in 2019. This program offers an alternative to incarceration for individuals struggling with substance use disorders by diverting them into a structured treatment and recovery process.
Participants who complete the program may have their charges reduced or dismissed, providing a second chance at a sober life. Dawn Steele has emphasized the importance of individualized care, stating, "With a program like this, we are dealing with people on an individual basis, helping them break their addictions rather than just putting them behind bars". City of Hilliard+1NBC4i+1
The Recovery Court is designed for high-risk, high-need individuals requiring intensive intervention. It has also expanded to include a Recovery Education Program (REP) for those at lower risk, aiming to address substance use issues proactively.
Key Features:
• Intensive Recovery Program: Participants engage in a structured program that includes treatment and regular court appearances.
• Supportive Approach: The program aims to provide tools and resources for participants to make life-saving changes.
• Community Impact: The initiative reflects a shift towards addressing substance abuse through rehabilitation rather than punishment. City of Hilliard+1NBC4i+1
For more information about the Hilliard Recovery Court and its initiatives, you can visit the City of Hilliard's official website: City of Hilliard - Home
The Hilliard Recovery Court is designed to help people with substance use disorder to find a path away from jail and toward an alcohol-drug-free life. The Court identifies people going through the court system and struggling with substance use disorder and diverts them away from potential jail terms and into a closely monitored treatment program to help them gain control of their lives.
“This is an intensive recovery program,” Steele said. “I am so proud of these graduates who made the decision to dedicate themselves to recovery and have used the tools provided by the Hilliard Recovery Court Staff to make life-saving changes.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2019, the court graduated four of the inaugural participants from the program.
“The idea of a recovery court is to identify people going through our court system who are struggling with substance use disorder and divert them away from potential jail terms and into a closely monitored substance-abuse treatment program that helps them get control of their lives,” Steele said.
Prevention and recovery resources
Hilliard’s program was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County and by approved additional funding from the City of Hilliard. The program’s early success enabled the City to apply for and receive a $500,000 federal grant to be used for staff and recovery service expansion through 2024.
