The Children's Defense Fund-Ohio works to address juvenile justice in Ohio.  CDF-Ohio's juvenile justice work includes advancing prevention and diversion programs and policies, ensuring that children who are incarcerated have access to basic treatment services, and addressing and correcting the overrepresentation of children of color in the system. Our efforts involve working with local law enforcement, courts, and the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

CDF-Ohio's Juvenile Justice Focus Is On:

• Addressing and correcting the overrepresentation of children of color throughout our Judicial system, including secure correctional facilities.
• Reforming the juvenile justice system in Ohio to mirror successful strategies implemented in other states, such as Missouri's model. This will result in smaller and more effective treatment facilities.
• Ensuring that children in the juvenile justice system have access to basic treatment services, including treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse treatment.
• Ensuring safety for all children that are held in secure settings including detention centers and correctional institutions.

Issue Brief: Juvenile Detention Reform in Ohio

The Children’s Defense Fund–Ohio, the Children’s Law Center, Inc., Voices for Ohio’s Children, and the Juvenile Justice Coalition–Ohio have collaborated to increase awareness and support among key stakeholders and the general public to bring about juvenile pretrial detention reform in Ohio. Related to that effort is the release of the Rethinking Juvenile Detention in Ohio Issue Brief and the Juvenile Detention Reform in Ohio Fact Sheet which outline the current research and impact of juvenile pre-trial detention. Both documents support the adoption of alternatives that will keep youth out of pretrial detention whenever possible, while maintaining community safety. Both publications are products of CDF-Ohio’s KIDS COUNT project.

To learn more about KIDS COUNT and for more information, please see our CDF-Ohio KIDS COUNT program.

Status of Ohio's Children: Juvenile Justice for Ohio's Children?

2010 Ohio KIDS COUNT Data Book

"Status of Ohio’s Children: Juvenile Justice for Ohio’s Children?" provides state and county data and information about Ohio’s juvenile justice system. Ohio has improved its support of children in recent years but continues to lag behind most states in terms of juvenile justice because minorities are disproportionately represented and there is a lack of basic treatment services for all children.

Juvenile Justice: A Look at Ohio