Common Pleas Judge Robert Kraft widened the probe in October so that the rest of the 41 Common Pleas officers and eight supervisors would be included. Some of the officers said they had stopped the drug tests because changes implemented by former Chief Probation Officer Michael Snowden had overtaxed them. People have to answer for their own actions,'' he said. The audits look at other factors besides the drug tests, like recovery of fines, fees and restitution. Supervisors resumed the audits in October on a schedule that will ensure each officer's work is reviewed twice a year, and the results so far have been good, Shannon said.
Drug screenings ensure that offenders are obeying terms of their probation.
The screening program was expanded in September, partially in response to Martin's investigation, and standardized to make it easier to identify offenders not complying. The department set a record in October with 4,485 specimens taken, then broke it in November with 4,823. The Cincinnati Post , an E.W. Scripps newspaper.