Mahoning judge praises reforms in juvenile justice

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A new state law containing measures to curb juvenile crime has been signed into law, and a juvenile court judge in Mahoning County is touting its benefits.

Gov. John Kasich signed HB 86 into law Wednesday.

Judge Theresa Dellick of the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas - Juvenile Division was part of a statewide coalition on the issue and was invited to the signing by Kasich.

The new law will affect juvenile justice in a number of ways including raising the age at which judges apply blended adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines for juveniles from 10 years old to 14, enhancing judges’ ability in handling juvenile cases by giving them discretion in cases that now require long, mandatory sentences and providing rehabilitative services closer to home for the vast majority of juveniles convicted of lesser offenses.

Judge Dellick, president of the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges, met with members of the House and testified before the Senate Criminal-Juvenile Justice Committee concerning the issue.

A press release from the judge’s office said that HB 86 will enable the Ohio to become safer and smarter and will save money for taxpayers. Passage of HB 86 will allow judges to give juveniles a more hopeful future while protecting public safety, the release said. Juvenile judges do not believe every child can be saved, but the goal is to save as many as possible because the ones who are not saved only become adult offenders preying on new victims, it said.

“These reforms will mitigate placing kids on a conveyor belt to adult crime. Moreover, the reforms will provide better services and outcomes at a decreased cost. The changes in HB 86 do not solve all juvenile-justice system issues, but they will aid in providing better outcomes for children, reduced crime and lower taxpayer costs. That’s a win for everyone in Ohio,” Dellick said.

Members of the coalition consisted of juvenile-court judges, Voices for Ohio’s Children, Lighthouse Youth Service Centers located in southern Ohio, Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, Kent State University’s Center for Innovative Practices, and the Children’s Law Center.