Municipal Court report details ongoing challenges
New Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Nanette DeGarmo Von Allman outlined her annual report of the court’s operation for 2021.
In a document provided to New Philadelphia Mayor Joel B. Day, City Council members and Tuscarawas County Commissioners, New Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Nanette DeGarmo Von Allman outlined her annual report of the court’s operation for 2021. In it, she outlined new challenges presented by Covid-19 restrictions as well as the ongoing challenge of handling cases related to the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
“We continued to take measures to insure and protect the health and safety of our staff and court users,” said Von Allman. “When Ohio lifted the Public Health Orders in June of 2021, we were largely able to return to pre-COVID operations.”
She made special mention of her staff, whom she thanked for taking on additional responsibilities and altered court procedures during the year. “The experience [also] gave us the opportunity to think outside the box, improve the use of technology, and implement operational efficiencies.”
The court caseload rose slightly in 2021 over the previous year, as the court handled a total of 9,224 cases, a 5.65% increase over the 8,375 cases handled in 2020. The additional caseload was managed in part by the addition of Magistrate Michael Dailey to the staff.
The report outlined a new program at the court, begun in 2021, to aid those with substance abuse histories or mental health issues. The program, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities in turn provides the Jobs for Recovery Program.
“OOD Jobs for Recovery provides employment assistance to individuals with substance use disorders and/or mental health disabilities,” said the report. “The courts received a full-time, dedicated, OOD staff, at no cost to the courts, who works alongside the courts’ treatment providers for the specialized dockets and probation departments. This staff member attends court proceedings and ensures rapid engagement of each participant in career counseling, job placement, and retention services. They also help address employment barriers, such as transportation and work clothes.”
In terms of funding, the report said “In 2021, the Court remitted $1,300,163.59 to the city and county: $1,174,618.98 to the City of New Philadelphia, including special court funds, and $125,544.61 to Tuscarawas County, including the Law Library and Public Defender fee.”
Receipts for the Court totaled $1,770,439.32 in 2021 compared to $1,675,789.40 in 2020, an increase of 5.65%.
Members of the court staff received extra training and continuing education related to their jobs. Court staff, including Judge VonAllman, Magistrate Weimer, Court Administration, Bailiff and Security staff, Probation staff and Clerk staff obtained over 320 hours of training/continuing education.
The court continued a program implemented in 2019 allowing for non-violent offenders to perform cleaning duties in New Philadelphia in place of jail time. The Court continued the program during the pandemic, as most work was outdoors, and hygiene and social distancing protocols were followed. In 2021, 76 defendants were ordered to serve a total of 327 days on the work program. If those days had been served in the county jail, the cost to the taxpayers would have been $19,620.
In 2021, the court handled 9,224 cases, including small claims, general civil, traffic and other matters. In all, 103 cases of domestic violence came before the court in 2021.
The report included information about the court’s probation department, pretrial supervision program, inmate work program, criminal diversion program and other operations of the court during 2021.
Further information about the court’s records and operation are available online at npmunicipalcourt.org. Visitors to the website can search open and closed case information, view the daily schedule, obtain information about the court’s operations, and pay financial sanctions online.