SCAM ALERT

Scammers sometimes attempt to impersonate court officials and law enforcement to deceive people.  Common scams include false claims that you missed jury duty and must make a payment to avoid arrest and fraudulent claims that a court case requires immediate payment.  Please know that this Court does not order people to make payments unless there has either been a court hearing or unless people have had an opportunity to make a written submission for the Court to consider. If you are in doubt, call the Court to confirm.

Pre-Trial Services

The Stark County Pre-Trial Services Program was established in 1973 as a pre-conviction component of the Court of Common Pleas General Division. The program also serves the Alliance, Canton and Massillon Municipal Courts. The program provides information to the courts to assist in making pre-trial release decisions regarding individuals who have been arrested and charged with criminal offenses. The program also monitors those individuals released under its supervision as a way to protect the community, reduce unnecessary pre-trial detention and enhance court appearance rates.

Eligibility

All arrestees charged with felonies and or misdemeanor crimes of violence processed into a county or city booking detention center.

Staff

The Stark County Pre-Trial Services presently employs eight staff members: a director, an assistant director, five Pre-Trial officers and an administrative assistant.

Description

The Pre-Trial Program maintains a stance of neutrality. No assumptions are made regarding innocence or guilt. For those seeking release prior to trial an interview and background investigation are required. The program's function is to provide the courts with verified data pertinent to the defendant's character, reliability, community ties, family ties, past record and current charges. Factors, which can possibly lead to a defendant's pre-trial release, are outlined in Ohio R. Crim. P. 46(c) (Anderson 2010).

Through the compilation of background information in conjunction with appropriate risk instruments, a recommendation regarding an arrestee is given to the Arraigning Judge based on the criteria mentioned above. Upon release, the Pre-Trial Program can employ a variety of levels of supervision and conditions. Pre-Trial Services monitors the defendant's progression through the criminal process; providing updated evaluations to the court and addressing any concerns that may impact bond recommendations or release status.

Prior to interviewing a defendant, the Pre-Trial officer explains the penalty as specified in Ohio Rev. Code § 2937.99 (Anderson 2010) , for violating the condition of release on an ‘Own Recognizance Bond' and requires each defendant to sign a form stating that he or she understands this penalty before proceeding.

Pre-Trial Services is also the liaison office for the Stark County Courts in identifying potential Drug Court (Chance Program), TIP (Theft Intervention Program), and Veterans Treatment Court (Honor Court) candidates, and making appropriate referrals.


Pre-Trial Services Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the criteria taken into consideration are: ties to the community, length of residency, nature of offense and prior criminal history. 
Typically, a Pre-Trial officer will require a defendant to adhere to a specific reporting schedule, which may include telephone and/or personal contact with the pre-trial office. The officer will monitor the defendant's compliance with conditions of release.
If you are placed on Pre-Trial bond supervision you will remain under supervision and all conditions apply while the case is pending trial and through the disposition including pleading guilty and waiting for a Pre-Sentencing Investigation (PSI) report, unless otherwise amended by the Judge.
If you violate the conditions of your bond, your bond may be revoked or more restrictive conditions can be placed upon you.
No. You will need to speak with the prosecutor assigned to that corresponding court to ask for it to be lifted.
When the case has been adjudicated (pronounced or decreed by judicial sentence).

Pre-Sentence Services

In March 2011 the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction notified the Court that as of June 2011 they would no longer be providing pre-sentence investigation services. With this change, the Court assumed the responsibility for the preparation of pre-sentence investigation reports. The Court of Common Pleas chose to develop additional job duties for existing staff in the Pre-Trial Services and Day Reporting Programs with the expansion of duties and staff positions, Pre-Trial Services was renamed as the Stark County Pre-Trial and Pre-Sentence Services. 

Staff

The Stark County Pre-Sentence Services currently has a full time PSI Supervisor who is also a PSI writer; two full time PSI writers and eight part time writers. 

Description

Information collected on the individual being investigated is presented to the court in a formal report called a Pre-Sentence Investigation report, a Post Sentence report or a Judicial Release report. The reports are protected by the Ohio Revised Code and are confidential documents. 

The Pre-Sentence Investigation consists of two parts. First, information is gathered from a variety of sources including but not limited to an interview with the individual; communication with the victim(s) and individuals involved in the case; the prosecutor; the officer who investigated the case; prior supervising officer(s); prior institutional record(s); and information from all available criminal background data sources.

Second, all individuals interviewed for a Pre-Sentence is subject to complete a required ORAS (Ohio Risk Assessment System) tool.

The Post Sentence Investigation is conducted on an individual that was sentenced to prison without a Pre-Sentence Investigation but may return to the community. The process of the report is much the same as a Pre-Sentence Investigation but without the need for the ORAS assessment.

The Judicial Release Report is conducted on an individual that is returning from the institution. The report consists of the individual’s institutional ORAS assessment; security risk score; conduct in the institution; program participation; and work history.

Additional reports prepared by the Pre-Trial and Pre-Sentence Services include Expungement reports and Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) reports. 

The Expungement report consists of a background investigation on individuals who are requesting to have a prior conviction(s) sealed from public view. The report is submitted to the Court for final approval.

A CQE is a background investigation that is requested by an individual with a particular felony or misdemeanor conviction. The purpose of the CQE is to eliminate obstacles for the individual to obtain employment in a specific field.  The report is submitted to the court for final approval.