together, we can dismantle the youth prison system. 


it’s unjust. unreasonable. and unsustainable.

By reinvesting these resources, we can begin to build restorative practices, equitable opportunities, and healing. 

 

policy

We will drive policy change that mandates alternatives to incarceration like prevention and rehabilitation.

education

We will expand support for restorative solutions by informing the public.

organizing

We will inspire action and activism for a movement towards sustained change.

meet our people

our mission:

The Juvenile Justice Coalition strives to provide a youth-centered organizational vehicle for people affected by the juvenile justice system and their communities through policy advocacy, community organizing and education, and nurturing leadership.

our vision:

We envision an Ohio where restorative practices, equitable resources, and healing replace a punitive juvenile justice system, and where all youth and families find power in themselves in safe and stable communities.

WE BELIEVE

restorative justice

JJC believes that systems that work with youth – including juvenile courts and schools – must fundamentally shift from a punitive, punishment-based approach to a restorative approach.

raising awareness

We have been active in leading rallies, marches, and rebellions in the face of the indiscriminate murder of unarmed Black men by the police. Our media presence has solidified our organization in the public eye as a force for good and equality. Our voice will only get louder as we work to end youth incarceration.

mandatory bindovers

In Ohio, juvenile court judges must transfer certain youth under the age of 18 to the adult court system if they are charged with – not convicted of – certain offenses. In Fiscal Year 2016, 168 youth were bound over to adult court. We are working with partners across the state to eliminate mandatory bindovers.

We will dismantle the juvenile justice system because it does more harm than good. 

 

our history:

JJC is a state-wide advocacy organization that works with Ohio youth who are at-risk of involvement or involved in the juvenile justice system. For 30 years, JJC operated as an entirely volunteer community organization and played an active role in juvenile justice advocacy, including being part of many of Ohio’s signature changes to the juvenile justice system like:

  • policy advocacy

    Convening various groups of advocates to coordinate positions on juvenile justice issues, such as:

    ending indiscriminate shackling

    truancy reform (In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 410 with strong bipartisan support to make courts the last step in addressing chronic truancy).

    juvenile sentencing legislation including an end to juvenile life without parole (JLWOP)

    Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) reauthorization

    Juvenile sex offender registry reform efforts (SB3 and SB10).

    Working to end Mandatory Bindover in Ohio

  • partnerships

    Coordinating an Ohio assessment of legal representation for indigent youth in Ohio published in March 2003 in partnership with the Children’s Law Center.

    Partnering with OSU Counselors for Social Justice and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to advocate for an end to Mandatory Bindover

    Working with many Ohio organizations on health and stability for youth, including Honesty 4 Ohio Education, OFUPAC, and Groundwork Ohio.

    Represent Ohio in the National Juvenile Justice Network and Youth First

  • community education

    Organizing a community education project to make youth and families more aware of their rights in the juvenile justice system as an outgrowth of the above assessment.

    Ohio Rising with Ohio Women’s Alliance

    Outreach to schools and community centers to reach young people directly

    Hosted webinars and seminars on police reform, racial disparities, and organizing

  • youth leadership

    Our youth leadership team, Voices of the Unheard, organized several campaigns

    Collecting stories from youth, incarcerated and free, to gauge direct impact of racial and economic disparities on Ohio’s underserved youth

  • HB 410

    In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 410 with strong bipartisan support. HB 410 is fully effective in the 2017-2018 school year and will work to reengage thousands of students who miss school, while also using the court system as a last resort for dealing with those students. This achievement was a hard-fought victory and a team effort.

  • improving data collection

    Each year, there are 95,000 youths with status defense and delinquency cases in Ohio’s juvenile courts, but there is only comprehensive state level data on 5% of those cases reported to the Ohio Supreme Courts by local courts. In June 2016, JJC released a report entitled Denied Existence: The Untold Stories of 90,000 Cases in Ohio’s Juvenile Courts, which included recommendations to improve this collection process.