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Court News Ohio
Jailed Youth
Decreases, Forum Finding Ways to Reduce Recidivism
By Jenna Gant
November 19, 2016
Ohio court staff and state representatives attended a two-day
conference in Austin, Texas to talk about ways to reduce the likelihood
of previously jailed teens and young adults from being rearrested and
ending up in the adult criminal justice system.
About 300 representatives from all 50 states last week gathered at the
forum, “Improving Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System,”
to develop plans to improve outcomes in the juvenile justice system.
Data released this month by the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention showed 47 states had reduced the number of youth
jailed from 1997 to 2013.
Ohio had a nearly 55 percent reduction rate for jailed juveniles in the
16-year study, and Ohio’s Department of Youth Services (DYS) population
has decreased from an average of 730 youth in facilities in 2011 to
under 500 youth today. But the study also showed that while
incarcerated youth decreased, they were less likely to stay crime-free,
achieve academically, and receive jobs after they left prison.
Ohio Supreme Court Children and Families Section Manager Stephanie
Graubner Nelson, Franklin County Juvenile Court Judge Elizabeth Gill,
DYS Director Harvey Reed, Holmes County Probation Officer David
Williams, State Rep. Dorothy Pelanda, and Assistant Policy Director
Deborah Herubin from the governor’s office attended the conference.
Judge Gill said the Franklin County Juvenile Court is dedicated to
continuing its efforts to reduce recidivism.
“We are committed to assist youth involved in the juvenile court system
to grow to be healthy productive members of our society,” Judge Gill
said. “The court will continue to collect and analyze data in an effort
to better understand what each child and family needs to give them the
best chance of not returning to the juvenile court or entering into the
adult correctional system.”
A comprehensive plan will be created as the team continues to meet and
identify additional partners to work with who can help reduce the
likelihood that youth will be rearrested.
“Our team is taking a careful look at how we can do a better job
ensuring thatthat youth are released from facilities and community
supervision positioned to succeed by staying crime-free, achieving
academically, and getting and keeping jobs,” Pelanda said.
Team members will apply for grants available through the Council of
State Governments Justice Center (CSG) as well as collaborate with
Ohio’s employers, schools, and other community organizations.
“We want the very best for the youth that we serve,” Reed said. “I am
thankful for the support and opportunity to unite with this
inter-branch team. By working together, we can improve outcomes for
youth in our juvenile justice system and ultimately make for a safer
Ohio.”
Judge Gill said the court is in its seventh year working with the Anne
Casey Foundation Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) to
better understand data involving these youth.
“Understanding that more harm than good may be accomplished by placing
low-risk offenders into detention or deeper into the system, the court
has initiated diversion programs including Community Restorative
Justice Circles; the Reception Center, where youth that are charged who
are assessed to be low-risk are diverted from the detention center and
given immediate access to necessary services; and Domestic Violence
Respite care,” Judge Gill said.
Seven other Ohio counties: Cuyahoga, Lucas, Mahoning, Marion,
Montgomery, Summit, and Trumbull are also participating in JDAI.
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