CHANCE Program

Introduction

The Stark County Court of Common Pleas CHANCE Drug Court Program was planned and developed in 1997. The development of the program was a cooperative effort between the Court, the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, the office of the Public Defender, the Stark County Day Reporting Program, Pre-trial Services, Stark County Adult Probation, local law enforcement agencies and local treatment providers. The goal of program is to utilize existing services to identify felony offenders with substance abuse problems and offer individualized treatment and monitoring to those individuals in order to provide rehabilitation and reduce criminal behavior and need for imprisonment.

The CHANCE Program is a Supreme Court of Ohio Certified Specialized Docket for eligible felony drug and alcohol related cases. It is a highly structured program were participants are given the opportunity to address their substance use issues through treatment and supervision. Participants are required to make regular court appearances before the CHANCE Program Presiding Judge. The CHANCE Program treatment team including the Prosecutor, the Public Defender, the probation officer, treatment providers and CHANCE Program staff reviews each case prior to the court hearing to assist the Judge in enforcing appropriate treatment objectives, incentives and sanctions. Participants are required to follow specific program rules.

Legal and Clinical Written Eligibility Criteria:

The Stark County Court of Common Pleas utilizes the following eligibility criteria for the CHANCE Drug Court Program. The presiding judge has discretion to decide the admission based on the following criteria. The written legal and clinical eligibility and termination criteria do not create a right to participate in the specialized docket.

Legal Criteria:

1. The pending charge is an eligible charge under Ohio Revised Code section 2925.03.
2. Any companion charges (s) are probation eligible, nonviolent, and no more serious than a third degree felony.
3. Offense must not carry a mandatory jail sentence of over 10 days.
4. Restitution that is not payable within the time frame of programming would preclude participation (typically no more than $2500).
5. The participant has no prior conviction for a felony offense of violence; and the participant has no history of evidencing a pattern of violent behavior.
6. Participant must have an established Stark County residence.

Clinical Criteria:

1. A clinical assessment determines that drug or alcohol usage by the participant was a factor leading to the offense(s) and the participant has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder per DSM-5 criteria.
2. The participant is capable of participating in and completing the program. (severe mental illness, low intellectual functioning or significant physical health issues would preclude participation in the program). Individuals with co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders are eligible.
3. Participant demonstrates an interest in and willingness to participate in a least a minimum of a 12-month treatment program of intensive supervision and treatment.
4. Participant demonstrates high clinical/therapeutic need.

Description:

The CHANCE Program is at minimum a 12- month program that consists of three phases. The philosophy of the program is that a comprehensive approach will be used to assist individuals in becoming responsible, contributing members of society. The program includes substance abuse treatment, recovery support meeting attendance, random drug screens, and regular meetings with the probation officer. The program may also include anger management classes, criminal thinking and moral reasoning classes, community service, parenting classes, GED classes and vocational and education assistance based in the individualized needs of the participant.

The CHANCE Program is based on the goal of abstinence from mood-altering substances for program participants. The team will work to assist individuals to successfully complete the program; however, the choice to be successful in recovery is based on the participant’s dedication to maintaining a crime, drug and alcohol free lifestyle.

Upon successful completion of the program, the felony charge(s) that initiated the referral to the CHANCE Program will be dismissed. Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence (OVI) charges cannot be dismissed.  

For specific questions, call the CHANCE Program Coordinator at (330) 451-7036.

Directions:

The CHANCE Program Office is located at:

201 Cleveland Ave SW, Suite 101

Canton, Ohio 44702

View Map

From the North (Cleveland, Akron)
Take I-77 South to exit 105 for OH-172/Tuscarawas St. toward Downtown
Turn left on to Tuscarawas St.
Slight right onto 3rd St. SW
Turn left onto Cleveland Ave. SW
(Destination is on the left at the corner of Cleveland Ave. SW and 2nd St. SW)

From the South (New Philadelphia, Cambridge)
Take I-77 North to exit 103 for OH-800 S/Cleveland Ave.
Turn left onto Cleveland Ave. SW
(Destination is on the left at the corner of Cleveland Ave. SW and 2nd St. SW)

From the East (Alliance, Louisville)
Take Route 62 West to I-77 South/US-62 West
Merge onto I-77 S/US 62W
Take exit 105 for OH-172/Tuscarawas St. toward Downtown
Turn left on to Tuscarawas St.
Slight right onto 3rd St. SW
Turn left onto Cleveland Ave. SW
(Destination is on the left at the corner of Cleveland Ave. SW and 2nd St. SW)

From the West (Wooster, Mansfield)
Take US 30 East toward Canton
Take OH-43 N/Cherry Ave. SE
Turn Left onto 2nd St. SE
Take 2nd St. to Cleveland Ave. SW
(Destination is on the left at the corner of Cleveland Ave. SW and 2nd St. SW)

From Columbus
Take I-71 North (signs for Cleveland)
Take exit 176 to merge onto US 30 E toward Wooster
Through Wooster, continue on US 30 East toward Canton
Take OH-43 N/Cherry Ave. SE
Turn Left onto 2nd St. SE
Take 2nd St. to Cleveland Ave. SW
(Destination is on the left at the corner of Cleveland Ave. SW and 2nd St. SW)

CHANCE Program Frequently Asked Questions