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Cleveland Municipal Court wins two grants to support specialized dockets
Summary
Council committee approved two emergency ordinances allowing the Cleveland Municipal Court to accept grants totaling $247,000 from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County to expand services for specialized dockets and to fund related administrative activities.
The Cleveland City Council finance committee on Sept. 22 approved two emergency ordinances that let the Cleveland Municipal Court accept grants from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County to support the court’s specialized dockets and related administration. The committee approved the measures on the committee floor and sent them on for full-council consideration or signature as required.
Michelle Kenny, finance director for the Cleveland Municipal Court, told the committee the court will receive $230,000 to support defendants in four specialized dockets — human trafficking, drug court, veterans court and mental health court — and a separate $17,000 ATP administrative grant used for non-treatment activities. “This piece with a specialized docket, we’re receiving $230,000 to help constituents that come through the court for the 4 specialized dockets that we have,” Kenny said, describing services such as help with rent, utilities, cell phone service and transportation to keep people engaged in treatment.
The $230,000 grant requires no local match, Kenny said; it is fully grant-funded and begins July 1 of the service year. She told the committee the court has received similar funding for more than a decade and that the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services Board increased the allocation this year from recent years. On the smaller ATP administrative fund, she said the $17,000 is not restricted for treatment and can pay for graduation events, program materials and other supportive services that do not expire.
Committee members spoke in support. One member called drug court “a very good tool,” and another member described the program overall as “outstanding” before the committee approved both ordinances.
The measures discussed are emergency ordinances authorizing the director of finance, on behalf of the Cleveland Municipal Court, to apply for and accept the two grants and to enter into contracts to implement the programs.
