Upper Arlington outlines mayor's court changes: payment plans, LEAP pilot and recovery court expansion

City Attorney Schulman and Mayor's Court Clerk Lisa Keller briefed council on Oct. 13 about changes to local court operations and related pilot programs following state law changes.

Schulman reported the legal office handled 805 matters so far this year, up from 620 the prior year, and emphasized that "matters" counts do not directly equal staff time. He and Keller explained how House Bill 29 (effective April 1) altered collection tools: the city must remove retroactive registration blocks tied solely to failure-to-pay (but may keep blocks for failure-to-appear) and must follow new procedures before issuing warrants. Keller described how the court shifted to monthly payment plans, collects email and phone contacts for reminders, and is working with its case-management vendor (Equivant) to send automated text reminders.

Keller described an improved process for failures to appear (a supplemental citation and new court date) that has led to payment or appearance in about 75% of those cases, reducing the number that previously resulted in warrants. For difficult-to-collect balances the city will refer cases to the Ohio attorney general's collection unit; the attorney general adds a 30% collection fee that is passed to the defendant, with the city receiving net collections when recovered.

The meeting also reviewed two programs designed to reduce repeat court contacts. The LEAP (License Evaluation and Assistance Program) pilot enrolls defendants, takes an upfront fee, and schedules a five-month period for participants to obtain valid licenses while checking in monthly with Joe Rausch. The pilot had 12 participants with 6 successful completions and 5 unsuccessful participants at the time of the report; officials said the program reduces repeat court touches even when participants do not finish.

Recovery Court, an expansion of the city's former drug court to cover alcohol and substance use disorders, remains an intensive two-year program. Schulman said the first participant entered in February 2023; as of the report there were 12 current participants and four graduates. The magistrate time for the program is supported by opioid-settlement funds, and much of the treatment support is currently provided by volunteer or partner agencies; staff said the city may pursue grants to fund paid clinical services in the future.

Officials described other operational upgrades: a pilot for electronic tickets (officers enter citations on in-cruiser computers, reducing transcription errors and enabling a future direct interface to the case system funded by a $10,000 state grant) and the use of on-demand certified remote interpreters to reduce scheduling costs while keeping in-person interpreters for plea or trial-level needs.

Council members asked for additional data on sentencing and case dispositions; Keller said disposition data are entered and can be run on request. Officials offered to provide more detailed reports on jail-day metrics, diversion outcomes and the LEAP pilot as the programs mature.