LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Common Pleas Court

  • Supreme Court Lets Martin v. Boise Stand: People Experiencing Homelessness Cannot Be Punished for Living in Absence of Adequate Housing or Sheler

    Supreme Court Lets Martin v. Boise Stand: People Experiencing Homelessness Cannot Be Punished for Living in Absence of Adequate Housing or Sheler

    Persons experiencing homelessness cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives.

     

    Cincinnati, Ohio – This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by the city of Boise to review the case Martin v. Boise (formerly Bell v. Boise). This leaves in place earlier rulings by the 9th Circuit that persons experiencing homelessness cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives.

    The Supreme Court’s decision, issued without comment, means the April 2019 ruling is binding in the 9th Circuit, covering nine states including most of the western states, and carries national influence.

    In a press release issued today, Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition said, “This is very important news, as our federal lawsuit filed last year by people experiencing homelessness and the Homeless Coalition continues to move forward here in the 6th Circuit.”  Their lawsuit aims to overturn City of Cincinnati policies criminalizing people experiencing homelessness outdoors and hopes to squash last year’s Common Pleas Court order making it an arrestable offense to experience homelessness outdoors anywhere in the Hamilton County including Loveland.

    The Law Center’s Executive Director, Maria Foscarinis, said, “Ultimately, our goal is to end homelessness through housing…so that no one has to sleep on the streets in the first place. We hope that the 9th Circuit decision will help communities find the political will to put that housing in place. Housing, not handcuffs, is what ends homelessness.”

    John Parvensky, Acting Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless described this as a “victory”, saying, “…it will force communities to address homelessness proactively – through the development of an adequate supply of affordable housing, while providing safe and appropriate emergency shelter in the interim”.

    For the full text of the Law Center press release and links to documents from the case, click here.

    For the full text of the National Coalition press release click here.

     

    Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree Why Not Give the Gift of Charity…

     

  • Child Support Services offers amnesty for civil warrants

    Child Support Services offers amnesty for civil warrants

    Batavia, Ohio – Clermont County Child Support Services will offer amnesty during October to noncustodial parents who have outstanding civil warrants relating to a child support hearing. The amnesty does not include criminal cases that are filed in Common Pleas Court.

    During the month of October, parents who have failed to appear for a court hearing, or to report to jail to serve a sentence relating to child support only, should contact the Child Support Services.

    The child support agency will suspend or withdraw civil bench warrants for those parents who arrange to make payments toward their child support, who are employed or registered with Ohio Means Jobs, or who meet certain other criteria. There will be no fee for this service.

    “The goal of the amnesty program is to reduce the number of outstanding civil warrants and to try to get these parents back on track and heading in the right direction,” said Brenda Gilreath, assistant director of Child Support Services. “This amnesty program will allow the parents who have warrants an opportunity to reach a legal resolution by working on a compliance plan – and the resolution is at no cost for the service.”

    In March 2017, Child Support Services held an amnesty, and were encouraged by the response. One hundred twenty noncustodial parents had their warrants removed and began paying child support. “Our message then, and our message now, is that this is the right thing to do,” said Gilreath. “Parents who are in jail cannot hold a job, and cannot pay child support. If the parent is serious, we will do everything we can to help them so that they can help their children.”

    The child support program serves more children than any other public program in Ohio, second only to the Department of Education. In 2017, the Clermont County agency collected almost $36 million in child support. The agency currently has 719 civil warrants associated with child support cases, representing $10.3 million in past due support.

    To find out more, or to start arrangements, noncustodial parents can call the warrant caseworker at 513.732.7334 at any time (leave a voicemail after hours), or visit the Child Support  Office from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the month of October. Appointments are not necessary during these hours but are encouraged.

    Noncustodial parents can also email shonna.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov. Find out more information on the Child Support Services website,  www.clermontsupportskids.org.

    Media: For more information, contact Theresa Bechtel Ellison, Lead Attorney, or Brenda Gilreath, Deputy Director, at 513.732.7429.

      Take Home Tano is about fresh, wholesome food for the frenzied family   Our goal is to meet the needs of busy families.