I’ve made videos covering each of the 8 points of my plan that go into more detail on each one. Let me know what you think. I value your feedback, view point, opinions, and questions.
Mark McCown’s Ironton Municipal Court Improvement Plan
1. Openness & honesty in all court operations & financials.
It seems that transparency is the buzzword of the day when it comes to any political office or government function, so what I’m suggesting here may seem like I’m appeasing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Transparency, openness, and honesty are not just some words that don’t mean anything to me. It’s why I have actually put an action plan in place, like many of my plans to improve the Ironton Municipal Court, and to save Lawrence County as much money as possible.
I want to put our checkbook online so the citizens can see where the money goes. I want to create an online site that shares case information so you can ensure the good ol’ boy system isn’t in play. This point is all about how government should run and the specific things needed for the citizens to keep it in check.
2(a). Start a Veterans Treatment Court in addition to a Drug Court.
Creating a Veterans Treatment Court at the Municipal Court level is something that I want to do for those who most deserve it. There are over 5,000 veterans in Lawrence County. While many come back from service and are able to integrate back into civilian life, there are many who come back with invisible wounds, like depression & PTSD, who turn to drugs and alcohol to numb those feelings. This idea is for those hurting people.
It’s not a slap on the wrist, but a structured program that will work with the various veteran organizations and treatment to get them the help they need, and in my opinion, the second chance they’ve more than earned. A program like this gives them necessary structure and support, and includes bringing in other veterans who have been where they are for peer mentoring. If you believe we owe our military veterans, then we have to implement a program like help them.
2(b). Start a Certified Drug Court on the Municipal Court Level.
We’ve all become more aware of what a Drug Treatment Court is through Court of Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard’s campaign last year. This specialized program is also something that we must add at the Ironton Municipal Court for a variety of reasons. The majority of drug related offenses start at the Municipal Court level. A Drug Treatment Court at this level will allow us to catch the problem much earlier in the process, creating a way to reduce the cost and time of recovery later on, and helping to fix the problem at the foundation before it escalates.
Having a specialized docket certified takes time, persistence, and a lot of work. I have the energy, passion, and work ethic to see this completed, and will work tirelessly with Judge Ballard to attack the drug epidemic at its foundation.
3. Courtroom handicap accessibility & victim privacy remodel.
This is something that should have happened a long time ago. It is unthinkable that individuals in wheelchairs cannot sit in the jury box or testify from the witness stand. It’s also unthinkable that domestic violence victims have to sit in the same waiting area across from their abusers. This remodel is something that will happen in stages and will take some time; however, I’m committed to seeing it through and making it happen during my first term should I be elected.
4. Install video arraignment system.
You want a judge that understands technology, and how to make that work for the courts. Many of us use things like Facetime, Skype, and Facebook Messenger to video chat, so we understand how simple remote communication can be. There’s simply no reason a video arraignment system shouldn’t be used by the court. This will serve multiple functions and have benefits that will more than make the investment worth it. It will save money from having to transport prisoners (that we can put towards finding a solution to the jail issue), cutting down extra payroll of corrections officers and court staff, as well as helping us keep our transport officers safe.
5. Court sessions held five days a week.
If someone is being paid a full time salary, he should be working full time hours. I am committed to holding court sessions 5 days a week. This will have multiple benefits, with one of the biggest being that it will help address the overcrowding issue at our jail and saving the county money that we can put towards a jail fix. Currently, we are housing defendants up to 3 days longer than we are supposed to, and those housing costs add up quickly.
6. Online access to all cases.
The public should have online access to case filings, the judge’s decisions, and all other papers filed in a court to keep the judicial system and its officials in check. This is another part of complete transparency that I want to bring to the Ironton Municipal Court. Want to make sure people aren’t getting special treatment through the “good ol’ boy” system? This is how we do it.
7. Schedule jury trials when requested.
Did you know there is an unofficial policy many judges use called the ‘jury penalty’? In this video, I’ll explain what it is…
8. Expand community service program.
Our township trustees are under-funded and under-staffed due to local government funding cuts by the state. I would like to expand the community service programs to help this issue with all the townships in the Ironton Municipal Court jurisdiction: expanding from a focus on Hamilton and Upper townships to include Aid, Decatur, Elizabeth, Lawrence, and Washington townships.