Ohio Children's Budget Coalition Policy Issue Brief: Youth Incarceration (12/30/20)

Juvenile incarceration is a high-cost policy with a low return on investment. Each year, Ohio spends an average of $185,303 per year to incarcerate one child–money that can and should be invested more effectively. Incarceration inflicts bodily harm on youth, is rife with racial disparities, restricts opportunities for youth to become well-educated and financially stable, and does not improve recidivism rates. Upstream investment in Ohio’s children will prevent their involvement in the juvenile justice system. In the meantime, the state should shift spending away from youth confinement and towards local and community alternatives with robust data collection that ensures programs treat the root causes of issues in children’s lives. Read More...