Advancement of probation programs in Marion earns Stotts a state leadership award

Tom Stotts, chief probation officer of Marion Municipal Court, is the 2023 recipient of the Vince Polito Executive Leadership Award presented by the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association.

“Tom has been very active in the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association," said Scott Fulton, president of the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association. "He has served every position on the executive board. Tom has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president. He has also served on numerous committees and has been instrumental in the planning of the line staff conference. Tom currently serves as immediate past president with the association.” 

The Vince Polito Executive Leadership Award is presented to community corrections executives who have performed their duties in an outstanding manner and/or made significant contributions to the respective probation or community corrections profession. The award also credits or honors probation executives through participation or involvement in community activities or programs.

“Everything we do in probation could not have been done without the support of Judge Teresa Ballinger and the dedicated work of the probation staff," Stotts said. "I want to thank President Scott Fulton and the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association for this prestigious award."

Spearheaded creation of diversion program, risk assessment, drug court

While under Stotts’ leadership, the Marion Municipal Court Probation Department established a diversion program in 2013 for many first-time offenses. In 2014, the department obtained additional funding through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to streamline the intake process by having a probation officer dedicated to completing risk assessments. The Municipal Courts drug court was established in 2014 along with a special dockets director to oversee the three specialty dockets.

In 2016, a probation officer was assigned to conduct quality assurance on processes and procedures to assist with passing grant standards to continue program funding. The probation department’s supervision software was updated in 2017 which includes appointment reminders, call-in random drug testing notifications, data collection, and connects with other probation departments around the State of Ohio who also use the system. The supervision management system was made possible through obtaining a technology grant with the Supreme Court of Ohio.

In 2019, the Probation Department hired its first of three case managers. Case managers assist in removing the barriers for offenders which may hinder them from working with their probation officer to change behaviors. These barriers may include getting a driver’s license, transportation to treatment and probation, housing, signing up for Medicaid, and employment just to name a few.

Community Service, Love Your Neighbor programs

The Marion Municipal Court's Community Service Program was established in 2019. This program refers many people to nonprofit agencies for community service work. The court partners with the City of Marion in the Love Your Neighborhood Program by providing community service workers to assist with neighborhood cleanups.   Those who enter the community service program do so to complete either the diversion program, complete a probation or special docket sanction, or to work off fines.

In 2021, the National Center for State Courts certified Stotts as a Certified Court Manager. Stotts has maintained grants through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Drug Addiction Services to assist with the funding for the Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans’ Treatment Court.

He recently obtained a grant renewal with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections known as Community Corrections Act 2.0 for $775,976 for the next biennium. This grant covers the salaries of five probation officers and salaries/benefits of two case managers.

Locally, Stotts serves as a member of the Marion Technical College Foundation board of directors, a member of Marion Technical College’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, and serves as committee chair for Downtown Marion, Inc.

Stotts is a graduate of Leadership Marion and has received alumni awards from both Marion Technical College and Tri-Rivers Career Center. Stotts teaches criminal justice courses at Marion Technical College.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association honors Marion's Tom Stotts