Celebrating the certification of the Ottawa County Juvenile Course are, left to right, Probation Officer Mike Reynolds, Judge Kathleen Giesler, Specialized Docket Coordinator Ann Johnson and Probation Officer Will Lehr.

Judge Kathleen L. Giesler has been pleased to announce the Juvenile Recovery Court has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court. The Commission on Specialized Dockets voted in favor of Ottawa County Juvenile Court’s certification for a three-year-term.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated the Ottawa County Juvenile Court and Judge Giesler for receiving final certification.

“Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and rehabilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society,” said Chief Justice O’Connor. “Studies have shown this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.”

Specialized dockets are courts dedicated to specific types of issues and use a combination of different techniques for holding participants accountable while addressing the underlying causes of behavior. The new standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio and allow local courts to innovate and tailor their program to meet the community’s needs and resources.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work closely with Ottawa County families,” said Judge Giesler, “and are honored to have the ability to now continue our designation as a specialized docket certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio”.