MANSFIELD — The late Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James D. Henson helped establish the county’s first Substance Abuse Treatment Court nearly 30 years ago.
It was one of the first drug courts in Ohio and even the nation.
Current Richland County Common Pleas Court judges Phil Naumoff and Brent Robinson each preside over a Richland County Substance Abuse Treatment Court, aka “Drug Court.”
Naumoff said Henson took some risks back in 1997 to start the specialized docket.
“It was not a popular concept to allow criminals out at the time they were addicts,” the judge said. “Rather than send them to prison, he thought it would be better if we treated them — that would get to the core of the problem.”
When Henson announced his retirement in February 2014, then-Gov. John Kasich appointed Robinson to replace the long-time jurist. He won election to the bench nine months later and remains in that position today.
Robinson has worked to expand the SATC, Naumoff said.
On Thursday, the two judges received a proclamation from county commissioners declaring May as National Treatment Court Month.
Getting to ‘the root of the problem’
Naumoff said current sentencing guidelines encourage judges to seek alternatives to prison. He said it’s nearly impossible to put someone charged with a fifth-degree degree behind bars.
“Ultimately, we have to get to the root of the problem,” Naumoff said. “What better way than to get them treatment.
“Are we always successful? No. But for the most part, I think we are and I think it’s benefited the community. We’re trying to save everybody that we can and make them more productive,” he said.
Commissioner Darrell Banks said it’s important to show hope for people navigating through the program.
“If we can show them some way of getting to the good end, it’s a great thing,” Banks said.
Robinson told commissioners there are currently 132 participants in the county’s drug court. Fourteen of those participants will graduate the program on May 13.
A ceremony is planned that day for 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom One at the Richland County Courthouse, 50 Park Ave. East.
“Right now we are at a 91-percent success rate in drug court,” Robinson said. “I think that’s the highest I can ever recall. That is very impressive.”
When he took over in 2014, Robinson said that same rate was about 69 percent. He said “success” is measured by whether or not an individual graduates from the program.
“As much as he (Naumoff) and I do, the hard work is done by the people in the court and also by our probation officers,” Robinson said.
(Below is a copy of the proclamation from the Richland County Board of Commissioners establishing May 2025 as National Treatment Court Month.)
‘Hiccups’ are expected
A specific treatment option may not work for all drug court participants. Naumoff said it’s important to remain open to different ideas and trying new things.
“That goes back to our treatment staff,” he said. “They’re the ones that monitor these offenders. They’re the ones that are supervising them and know what’s going on, so ultimately I have to give credit to our staff.”
Participants in drug court are assigned a probation officer and must also be receiving some form of treatment. Robinson said the court doesn’t dictate what provider the individual receives treatment from, but it’s a requirement.
“We have some people that complete drug court in as little as a year,” he said. “I’ve had other people take almost five years to get through it successfully.
“It’s not something we just give up (on) and say ‘Okay. You’re done.’ We expect them to have some hiccups along the way, because you’re dealing with addiction,” Robinson said.
