This article first appeared in the West Side Leader on May 16, 2019
| Photo courtesy of Akron Municipal Court |
AKRON — An Advisory Board for Akron Municipal Court’s RISE (Restore Individual Self-Empowerment) Program, led by Judge Ron Cable, includes representatives from the following organizations pictured at right: ACCESS Shelter & Housing Inc.; Akron General’s PATH Program; Akron Police Department; City of Akron Prosecutor’s Office; Asian Services in Action Inc.; Caring for Kids; Community Health Center; Freedom House for Women Inc.; Legal Defender’s Office of Summit County; Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Law Clinic; Oriana House; RAHAB Ministries; Rape Crisis Center of Summit & Medina Counties; Summa Hospital; Summit County Juvenile Court; Summit County Prosecutor’s Office; and Victim Assistance Program.
Through partnerships with outside agencies, RISE provides services such as trauma therapy, drug rehabilitation, mentoring, housing and vocational services. The program officially began October 2018 and there are eight women currently enrolled.
Court officials stated RISE is for adult female victims of human trafficking, prostitution and sexual exploitation. Ohio law provides for expungement of certain offenses committed by human trafficking victims.
“Having an active advisory board is often the key to success for special court programming,” said Cable. “Each team member is passionate about aiding human trafficking victims as they overcome their circumstances and I am extremely proud of the RISE Program’s accomplishments.”