Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Prosecutor’s Diversion Program Participates in Crisis Intervention Training
(ZANESVILLE, OHIO)
DART, the diversion and rehabilitation treatment program housed within the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s office presented at a Crisis Intervention Training hosted this week by a committee consisting of the Muskingum Area Mental Health and Recovery Board, Allwell, Muskingum-Guernsey- Perry Sherriff's Offices, New Lexington PD, and NAMI Six County.
The training stretches over the course of a week and brings together law enforcement and community partners from Zanesville and surrounding counties to educate and share resources on responding appropriately to a mental health crisis.
Kasi Stewart LPCC-S, diversion coordinator for DART, served as a presenter at the event. Her training provided new law enforcement agents and community providers the background, mission, and goals of DART.
Stewart focused on the elements of the pre-arrest diversion program and how providers and law enforcement can contact her regarding referrals to appropriate service providers.
Since its beginning in October, 2022, 47 participants have participated in the DART program. The average length of time in the program has been 12 months. There have been 25 participants who succeeded in having criminal charges diverted. Twelve participants are currently working through the program.
Prosecutor Ron Welch explained “My office’s success rate in diverting charges and keeping individuals from entering or re-entering the criminal justice system is over 70%. This success rate is outstanding and shows what an outstanding job Kasi has done. Credit must also be given to the individuals in the program who have taken advantage of available resources to make positive changes in their lives.”
To learn more about DART please visit our dedicated webpage:
https://www.muskingumprosecutor.org/Resources-Links/DART/
If you or someone you know isn’t facing charges but need assistance being connected to local resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kasi Stewart, Diversion Coordinator.
Email: knstewart@muskingumcounty.org
Phone: 740-455-7123
###
Follow the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office on Facebook for the most current and complete information.
