Ohio closing another juvenile detention facility

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio is closing another juvenile correctional facility as the number of youths sentenced to time in the state detention system continues to fall.

The closing of Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility in Delaware in central Ohio will leave the state with just three juvenile detention facilities.

The Department of Youth Services said today the center, with a $28 million budget, houses only 38 youths. The state houses a total of 525 juveniles, down 160 from just two years ago.

Department spokeswoman Kim Parsell says Scioto’s 247 employees will be offered jobs within Youth Services.

Ohio has closed several juvenile detention facilities in recent years as more and more youths going through the court system are held in locally run centers in an effort to keep them closer to home.