News & Commentary

A transparent government can be an accountable government.

The Greater CLE Youth Justice Collective is concerned about a negative trend in the way various community stakeholders discuss court-involved youth in greater Cleveland.

In November 2023, Governor Mike DeWine announced the formation of a Juvenile Justice Working group to right the ship and set Ohio’s youth justice system back on a path towards progress.

The goal of all youth legal systems is to ensure youth are given a developmentally appropriate chance to right their wrongs and move into adulthood on a more positive track.

Youth justice systems were created to protect young people’s rights and focus on education and rehabilitation rather than punishment

Juvenile justice systems were created to protect young people’s rights and focus on education and rehabilitation rather than punishment. Sadly, in recent years, Ohio institutions have drifted away from that original purpose.

Our children are in the midst of a student mental health crisis. As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, let’s look ahead to a future where all students thrive.

At the ACLU of Ohio, we believe all children have the capacity to change and are deserving of second chances. Justice-involved youth should be provided with opportunities for treatment, rehabilitation, and positive reinforcement.

While the end of childhood may not be clearly defined, it is clear that it should not be defined by the criminal legal system.