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Putting a Face on Every Child: Ohio's Juvenile Justice Reforms

Released May 2010 

Ohio, like many other states, mirrored its juvenile system on the adult criminal justice system. Mandatory sentencing laws accompanied that decision, obligating judges to give out fixed sentences without regard to the crime involved, safety risks, or the youth’s capacities. The short video highlights how mandatory get-tough-on crime laws continue to fail Ohio’s youth resulting in low and moderate risk kids being incarcerated for lengthy sentences in large, warehouse-like facilities that are far from home and not resourced to respond to individual needs. As a result, many of these kids come out of the system years later more dangerous than when they entered.

Children’s Law Center, Inc. was fortunate enough to have incarcerated youth, family members, and professionals working in the system share their stories. The DVD is one of two that will be produced on reform efforts in Ohio to help highlight current issues facing Ohioans and opportunities to enhance responses for youth, families and communities. This video spotlights the need for greater judicial discretion and cost-effective sentencing options that foster rehabilitation, by building a continuum of care based upon evidence-based practices that emphasize keeping youth in their communities, in the least restrictive setting possible, with the highest level of intervention, supervision, and services

Litigation and Advocacy: Keys to Creating an Effective Post-Disposition System in Ohio

Released September 2010

During the past two years, there have been significant changes in Ohio's institutional response to incarcerated youth. This short film highlights the conditions that led up to the federal lawsuit known as S.H v. Stickrath and the extensive settlement that ensued. The film also explores how the legal system can support improved outcomes for youth after they have been found to be delinquent. Juvenile justice professionals discuss the role of ongoing legal advocacy and enhanced assessment, rehabilitative and reentry programming for youth post-disposition.