Decrease in Mahoning County juvenile commitments adds up to more state funding

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Juvenile Court has seen its annual allocation of state RECLAIM funding triple since 2009 as its felony adjudications and commitments to state juvenile correctional facilities have declined, the court reports.

RECLAIM Ohio funding to the court went from about $750,000 in 2009 to a record $2.3 million this year, said Magistrate Anthony D’Apolito, juvenile court administrator.

The court’s felony adjudications – the juvenile equivalent of felony convictions for adults – went from 169 in 2009 to 92 last year.

The court’s commitments to Ohio Department of Youth Services correctional facilities – the juvenile equivalent of state prison for adults – went from 29 in 2009 to seven each in 2014 and 2015.

“Our funding has been going up for RECLAIM; and juvenile crime in the area has been going down,” as shown by declining felony adjudications and DYS commitments, D’Apolito said.

RECLAIM stands for Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors.

The state funding formula rewards counties with increased funding under the RECLAIM program as they reduce their felony adjudications and DYS commitments.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com