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Number of Juveniles in Ohio Prisons Drops

photo of Joanna Saul
ANDY CHOW
/
STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU

  The group that keeps tabs on Ohio’s prisons for state lawmakers says there are fewer young people behind bars. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports.

The Correction Institution Inspection Committee said the number of teenagers sent to Ohio’s adult prisons took a huge dip to its lowest numbers in 15 years.

The group’s executive director, Joanna Saul, says this represents an important institutional shift.

“Anytime you have juveniles placed into the adult prison system you’re basically throwing away the key in my opinion. You are building up for them an education in how to be a criminal.”

Saul says the low numbers are, in part, due to more awareness about the dangers of putting youths in adult prisons and a better understanding among judges.

She notes some issues Ohio’s correctional facilities are facing in the future include a dip in inmates earning GEDs and increasing prison populations.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.