Portsmouth Ohio drugs
Scioto County is willing to give low-level drug offenders a second chance but many are afraid to accept it. Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman contacted us to get the word out about a life-changing program.
Low-level drug offenders get a chance to walk away without a criminal record. Plus, they get the necessary help to get on the right patch and stay there. Let’s look at why Tieman started the program and who’s allowed to take part.
Drugs are the Root of the Problem
If you ask Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman what the root of most of the crime in the county is, he’ll tell you in one word: ‘drugs.’
He said that when after his election in 2018, he had a lot of discussions with officials and citizens about the best way to help addicts. His goal was to get drug users back on the right track and turn them into productive members of society. That doesn’t mean he wanted to let people entirely off the hook for their actions.
“I wanted to make sure there was a way to hold people accountable for crimes and still get treatment.”
Chance for a Reset
Tieman started an early intervention program back in March of 2019. The program offered a second chance to some low-level drug offenders. The requirements:
- No violence
- No victims
- Not too much of a previous record
Offenders are invited to participate in a treatment program. If they are successful for six months, Tieman declined to charge or indict them.
The prosecutor said, “So, they wouldn’t have an indictment on their record. They would have an opportunity for a reset.”
Why is that reset so important? It leaves the participants with a clean criminal record. That can make a world of difference when applying for a job.
Catch Them Early On
Prosecutor Tieman said the problem with other intervention programs like drug court is that they happen later in the criminal justice process, generally after someone is indicted. “That means that when people look at your record they see an indictment. We wanted to hit them a little earlier in the cycle.”
Many times it can take months after the initial arrest to even get to an indictment. During that time, new offenders fall deeper into the cycle of addiction. “People could be further into their addiction and they run the risk of overdosing. The quicker we can address the situation, the better.”
But Tieman faced a big problem. “The judicial system isn’t really set up to do this kind of thing very well.”
We’re The Bad Guys
Tieman reached out to local law enforcement agencies and public defenders. He found that they were enthusiastic about the idea.
The people the program is aimed at were not convinced. “Inviting someone in the throes of addiction to talk to the prosecutor about their problem doesn’t go over well. We’re the bad guys. We’re keeping them away from drugs.”
Defendants even tend to regard their own defense attorneys as part of a system that is stacked against them.
The Solution
Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman struggled to get defendants to take the second chance his office offered. Then the Portsmouth City Health Department reached out to him back in October of 2019. “We thought maybe those folks would listen to them better than me.”
The health department already had a navigation system in place to refer people to needed resources. Tieman said plans had just started to fall into place when COVID-19 hit.
Now, the health department and the prosecutor are ready to get this program off the ground.
The Help They Need
Hannah Matthews is a client navigator with the Portsmouth City Health Department. She explained that they don’t just help offenders find a rehab program. The department takes a holistic approach to help folks get their lives right.
- Clients are referred to rehab, treatment, and detox centers as needed.
- Assistance in applying for Medicaid is offered, if necessary.
- There’s a food pantry and housing assistance available.
- Help is offered for completing your education and finding a job.
The Portsmouth City Health Department administers a Vivitrol program as well. The Vivitrol shot blocks cravings for opiates and alcohol. Unlike other medications prescribed for addicts, it does not addictive properties.
Participants must have a clean drug test and participate in counseling.
Both Tieman and the Health Department want to make it clear that they are not monitoring the private details of participants’ rehab treatment. They are informed if the patient is participating in rehab or has successfully completed a program. If a client makes satisfactory progress over a period of a few months, charges are dismissed.
“I get a general report from health navigation that tells me they are still in the program,” Tieman said. “I don’t get into the details of the treatment itself. At some point, after I see that they are doing well, I decline to press charges.”
How It Works
Tieman said there are two ways he finds candidates for the program.
Law enforcement agencies submit reports for arrests they think meet the criteria
“For example, say the Ohio State Patrol finds a small amount of illegal narcotics on a traffic stop. That might be a case the submit to us.”
Tieman’s Office reviews charges and arrests in Portsmouth Municipal Court
“I get the report their criminal history and the evidence. I determine whether or not they would be a good referral. He then forwards those cases to the health department.”
The Portsmouth City Health Department then calls the person or sends out a letter. The client undergoes an assessment that takes about an hour to determine what type of help they need.
Tieman said he would encourage anyone who believes they might be eligible to contact the Portsmouth City Health Department at (740) 353-5153 or have their defense attorney get in touch.
“We want to get as many qualified people into treatment as we can to turn their life around.”
Everybody Wins
The Prosecutor said that a program like this doesn’t just benefit the offenders.
“You look at a person who is not going through the court system, their mom or dad, their kids, their life is going to improve.”
Employment-ready workers with clean records make the area more attractive to businesses. “They don’t even have the little blip of an indictment and a dismissal.”
Tieman also said it saves his office time and money. “Everyone we get in is one less indictment, two or three less hearings. It saves a lot of court time. It limits jail population and gives us space for violent offenders.”
Right now, the biggest hurdle is getting the word out and convincing those eligible to participate. The prosecutor said, “That’s the step we really got to get down. How do we really grab their attention? How do we get them in?”
