Congratulations h.a.r.t Graduates

Posted on 5/13/2022

Defendant:

Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Tyack wants to congratulate the 30 new graduates of Franklin County Municipal Court’s h.a.r.t. program.

The graduation ceremony took place on May 11, 2022. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office supports this program financially through the Community Preventive Education Program.
Judge Jodi Thomas presides in the court housing the program. Prosecutors from this office assist in selecting and engaging with the participants.

The h.a.r.t program is two-year, four phase opiate-specific drug court certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio that establishes a treatment plan supervised by the court as an alternative to a felony drug conviction and incarceration. The program helps participants break barriers presented in the typical court process by assisting with treatment, housing, transportation and employment as part of the recovery effort. The participants are still held accountable by meeting with the judge on a weekly basis, being supervised by a probation officer, providing urine screens and following the treatment plan designed for them. Upon successful completion of the program, the criminal charges are vacated and dismissed eliminating the stigma of a felony conviction and the need to apply for an expungement.