(Washington, D.C.)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine testified today before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights hearing about “ending the school to prison pipeline.” DeWine testified about the successes of Ohio’s juvenile justice reforms, known as RECLAIM Ohio, which began in the 1990s when he served as Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor.
“In the 1990s, Ohio’s juvenile justice system was in disarray, with some facilities housing twice as many youths as they were designed for,” said DeWine. “We looked for a solution that would keep youths closer to their families, schools and other support systems, while enhancing public safety and reducing the population and violence in Ohio’s juvenile facilities.”
As Lt. Governor, DeWine convened meetings with juvenile judges and other interested parties across the state which led to the creation of RECLAIM Ohio, short for Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors. This program reduced the number of commitments to the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) and expanded the community-based options available by providing a financial incentive where essentially, the money started to follow the juvenile. If he or she stayed in the community, so did the funding.
RECLAIM Ohio has delivered results:
- The DYS population has declined from a high of more than 2,600 in May 1992 to 551 in October 2012
- Felony commitments to DYS facilities decreased from 2,215 in fiscal year 2000 to 836 in fiscal year 2010, a 62 percent reduction
- For all but the highest-risk youth, RECLAIM programs are cost-effective alternatives to DYS and community corrections facilities, and they produce lower recidivism rates
- Ohio saved more than $57 million in operating costs previously spent on incarceration by closing four juvenile facilities
“RECLAIM Ohio has functioned as it was designed. It works because it avoids institutionalizing low-risk youth, instead keeping them with their families and peers, in their school and community. In a supportive setting, families and educators are best able to work together to use discipline to correct behavior. RECLAIM also ensures that there is space for juveniles who need to be committed to DYS,” added DeWine.
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