Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is offering a free webinar, Inside a High-Risk Domestic Violence Court. The webinar is on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. ET.
About the Training
Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research (APPR) invites pretrial and court professionals to a national virtual training on how one Ohio court handles its most dangerous intimate partner violence cases. In November 2020, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas began accepting cases on a specialized docket for defendants charged with intimate partner violence involving firearm use or strangulation. Both are recognized warning signs for intimate partner homicide.
The docket, which brings together the prosecutor’s office, public defender, adult probation, sheriff’s department, victim advocates, and community partners, uses evidence-based supervision to closely monitor defendants and address behavioral needs. At the same time, advocates maintain contact with survivors to support safety planning and connect them with resources. A Bureau of Justice Assistance grant supported the court’s work, and Case Western Reserve University evaluated it.
During a facilitated discussion, Judge Sherrie Miday and Erin Gibbons of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas will speak with Dr. Kelvin L. Banks and Keilah Joyner of the Center for Effective Public Policy about the court’s design, how cases are identified and screened, how the team coordinates across agencies, and what the court has learned since its launch. Participants will leave with practical ideas for adapting elements of this model in their own jurisdictions.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the purpose, eligibility criteria, and structure of Cuyahoga County’s High-Risk Domestic Violence Court.
- Identify the roles of court, supervision, and victim advocacy partners on a multidisciplinary high-risk team.
- Consider steps and challenges in adapting a high-risk DV docket or team approach in your own jurisdiction.
Training Faculty
Dr. Kelvin L. Banks, associate director, Center for Effective Public Policy
Dr. Banks has over 25 years of experience in the justice system, with more than 10 years in pretrial justice. He was previously the director of pretrial services in Harris County, Texas, and for the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan.
Keilah Joyner, program associate, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Joyner supports the National Resource Center on Justice-Involved Women, including the Gender-Informed Practices Assessment and an initiative focusing on the assessment of gender-responsive policies and practices. She also provides programmatic and training support to APPR. Before joining CEPP, Ms. Joyner worked for the Florida Commission on Offender Review and various nonprofit agencies.
Erin Gibbons, specialty court administrator, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Sherrie Miday, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
Registration Process
If you are interested in attending the webinar on October 28, please complete the webinar registration.
Please direct any questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.
