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EAST LIVERPOOL -- East Liverpool Municipal Court Judge Melissa Byers Emmerling is seeking re-election to the seat she has held since first being elected in 1989, saying she wants to continue serving the city and St. Clair and Liverpool townships.
Byers Emmerling established one of the first municipal court Intensive Supervised Probation (ISP) programs in Ohio, having been awarded about $2 million in state grants since 1996 to fund the ISP programs.
According to Byers Emmerling, the ISP program monitors, rehabilitates and guides serious criminal offenders towards becoming law-abiding citizens after serving a jail sentence.
For non-violent offenders, Byers Emmerling created a Community Service Program (CSP) wherein defendants give back to their communities and learn job skills.
Since CSP's inception, she said more than 140,000 hours of community service work has been performed, funded by defendants' fees, with no cost to taxpayers.
"As the heroin epidemic attacked our community, too many relapsed into heroin addiction before court-ordered treatment could help," Byers Emmerling said.
As a result, 14 months ago, Byers Emmerling initiated a Vivitrol shot program at the Columbiana County Jail. This shot prevents inmates from getting high from opioids such as heroin and fentanyl for 30 days.
"Inmates receive their shots after serving their jail sentence in order to give them the needed time to begin treatment. This approach provides the foundation for necessary recovery," she explained.
The success of the ISP and Vivitrol shot programs was the forerunner of the East Liverpool Municipal Court SOS Addiction Recovery Court to address the needs of those severely addicted to illegal drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol.
"I am overwhelmed by the community's support of our SOS Addiction Recovery Court that has been pre-certified by the Ohio Supreme Court. This is a tough, year-long structured recovery approach monitored by myself, as judge, to address the many reasons for, and the recovery from, addiction," Byers Emmerling said.
She continued, "Our goal is to be the guiding light to a sober life for those who have relapsed Through teaching self-control, oversight and inspiration, the program offers the tools to sobriety that are critical to success. Our innovative approach includes filling the void left by abstaining from drugs to include sober hobbies and activities such as the Ohio State Extension Office offering a cooking class, book clubs and exercise classes, all partnered with the help of the community."
Byers Emmerling said, "Thank you for permitting me to be your judge. I hope you will support me in continuing as judge to address the continuing challenges of addiction in our community."
She is married to East Liverpool Attorney Frederick Emmerling, and their son, Byers Bowman "Bo" Emmerling is completing his law degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.