The Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Board, is honoring Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge, Joy Malek Oldfield, with their Dr. Robert M. Smith Innovation Award.

Oldfield is the Presiding Judge over the Ohio Supreme Court Certified Summit County Turning Point Program, Summit County’s only adult felony drug court program. The mission of this program is to provide individuals with effective court supervision and enhanced treatment services to change their behaviors and reduce their risk to the community. Turning Point’s focus is on people: building trust, promoting accountability, and seeing people for who they are while supporting their goals.

ADM Board officials say Oldfield has “redfined” what recovery-focused justice looks like in Summit County and beyond, and with her long history of commitment to recovery work, and cutting edge and comprehensive approach to handling cases.

In addition, they note “She has longstanding professional relationships with both SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and All Rise (formerly known as The National Association of Drug Court Professionals), two of the leading organizations in the industry where she serves on expert panels and provides education and training for organizations dedicated to improving the justice system’s responses to substance use and mental health disorders. Judge Oldfield recently underwent training to serve as national faculty for All Rise.”

Oldfield, who says she is “extremely honored” to win the award is an adjunct Professor/Senior Lecturer at the University of Akron School of Law teaching both Pretrial Advocacy and Problem Solving Courts.

She also serves as a Board of Trustees member for the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College, and is actively involved in the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association where she serves as Second Vice-President, Education Chair and Board of Trustees member. Judge Oldfield presents regularly at the Supreme Court of Ohio’s New Judge Orientation.