Reports Examine Ways to Rethink Juvenile Detention in Ohio
Kuhlman, Mary. Public News Service, November 19, 2010.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - According to the National Center for Juvenile Justice, Ohio detains youth at a rate higher than most states, and a majority are there for non-violent offenses or technical violations. However, Ohio has recently revamped parts of its juvenile justice system, and now there's a call to take it farther by rethinking juvenile detention in the Buckeye State.
Two reports released by the Children's Defense Fund support additional changes that would eliminate what the research classifies as the "unnecessary use" of pre-trial detention. Kim Brooks, executive director of the Children's Law Center, explains.
"We know statistically that kids who are detained at the front end, pretrial, in local facilities tend to stay in the system longer. We also know we often incarcerate too many kids, and we incarcerate them for the wrong reasons."
Ohio has approximately 40 juvenile detention centers, which vary in size, operational cost and use. Brooks says non-secure options should be considered for many juveniles.
"A good alternative system should look at a range of options: home monitoring, intensive supervision, where you have somebody checking in on them periodically to make sure that they're at home, and also emergency shelter beds."
Brooks adds that juvenile detention is an expensive option for many communities and can cost up to $65,000 a year, per bed.
"We can't afford to keep doing it. This state is in a budget crisis right now, it's costly to incarcerate, and when we know there are better alternatives to this that don't jeopardize public safety, then we need to pursue them."
The report highlights the Juvenile Justice Detention Alternatives Initiative to Promote Reform, a model currently being used by five counties in Ohio (Cuyahoga, Franklin, Lucas, Montgomery and Summit). Brooks says it includes alternatives that can keep youth out of pretrial detention whenever possible, while maintaining community safety.
The reports are available at www.childrensdefense.org.
