Ohio Supreme Court to study courts’ shackling of juveniles

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio Supreme Court committee plans to study and make recommendations about juvenile court policies on shackling youths during court proceedings.

The court says that Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor on Wednesday met with the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio to outline her plan to address the issue.

The court says its Juvenile Justice subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Children & Families will make proposals for rule and policy changes by mid-October. A mandate that Ohio juvenile courts adopt a local court rule regarding the use of restraints in court proceedings is possible.

Justice O’Connor says courts must balance the safety of the juvenile and others in the proceedings “with the rehabilitative focus that is at the core of our juvenile court system.”