Mount Vernon Municipal Court

08/18/2026

The Court's two Specialized Dockets, MERIT Drug Court and Mental Health Court, met for the annual picnic and awards ceremony at Ariel Foundation Park. Some of the Specialized Docket participants brought their children and we thank Police and Kids (PAK) United Officers for bringing games for the kids. Thank you to Piada Italian Street Food for providing lunch. MERIT Court graduates included Logan Strouse and Makayla Clawson-Harper. Logan and Makayla were recognized by Probation Officer Joel Carter.

08/14/2026

Probation Officer Lisa Shaw is shown here with Joe McFarland and Mike Crawford. Joe and Mike have graduated Mental Health Court. They were recognized at the Court's Specialized Dockets annual picnic at Ariel Foundation Park.

07/08/2026

There will be a jury trial tomorrow. Jurors should report at 8:15 a.m. Look for Juror parking on N. Gay and Chestnut Streets.

06/11/2026

The Court will be closed on June 25, 2026 from 8 a.m. to noon for training. This includes the Clerk's Office and the Probation Department.

06/05/2026

Thank you Elite Preparedness for the excellent training for our Probation Officers and Bailiff.

05/21/2026

Congratulations Officer Carter!

Joel Carter was honored in Mount Vernon for crisis intervention work tied to MERIT Court and Mental Health Court.

05/14/2026

The Adult Probation Department's Community Service Program is working at the cemetery today cleaning off the headstones before the City mowing crews begin their work. This is the seventh year in a row the Probation Department has helped get the cemetery ready for Memorial Day. The community service workers are people serving a term of probation who need hours to work off their fines and costs or complete their sentences. Probation Officers supervise and participate in the work.

05/11/2026

Probation Officer Justin Myers recently obtained his Licensed Social Worker credential. An LSW provides professionals with specialized education and training in human behavior, mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention, ethics, case management, and evidence-based treatment practices. These skills are directly applicable to probation supervision and rehabilitation efforts. Obtaining an LSW requires a bachelors degree in social work, field placement and internship hours, then passing the Association of Social Work Boards licensing examination. Congratulations PO Myers.

05/11/2026

Thomas Myers was sworn in today as a Deputy Bailiff. Tom served in the United States Marine Corps and he worked for the Court as a security officer.

04/30/2026

The Mandated Education and Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Drug Court is a specialized docket certified by the Ohio Supreme Court for individuals with a substance use disorder. The people in drug court have been convicted of misdemeanor offenses. After serving jail time the participants have a term of probation to complete. The participants attend weekly review hearings in the courtroom, engage in drug treatment programs, inpatient and outpatient, attend classes, counseling sessions and sober support groups. MERIT Drug Court is essentially a very intensive type of probation with the goal of getting people clean and sober and ready to live a life in recovery. MERIT Court was the first drug court for adult offenders in Knox County, established in 2016.