Connect with us

Ohio

Reports: Escalating violence, staff shortages continue to plague Ohio’s youth prisons

Published

on

Reports: Escalating violence, staff shortages continue to plague Ohio’s youth prisons



Ohio’s youth prisons continue to struggle with staffing. One in five jobs are vacant and large numbers of employees left last year, inspections found

Nearly a year after publication of an investigation into Ohio’s youth prisons, new inspection reports show escalating violence and chronic staff shortages continue to hinder the state’s ability to protect its employees and teens in the system.

The Correctional Institution Inspection Committee, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and its professional staff, released reports this month on Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in Massillon and Circleville JCF south of Columbus. In both reports, the committee said the Ohio Department of Youth Services failed to provide some of the requested data.

Special report: Ohio’s juvenile detention system struggles with violence, neglect

Advertisement

Here are the key takeaways from the reports:

  • Hours kids spend locked in their rooms increased in 2024 over 2023.
  • The rate of violent acts each week increased slightly at Circleville and jumped 31% at Indian River in 2024 over 2023.
  • Staff are physically restraining youths at both prisons more often this year than last.
  • Employee vacancy rates are high, 21.5% at Circleville and 22.2% at Indian River, including open positions and people on leave.
  • Employee churn is high, 58.6% of workers left Circleville and 44.1% left Indian River in 2023.
  • Gangs continue to exert influence with more than half of kids joining a gang.

Employees described low workplace morale, driven by mandatory overtime shifts every week and assaults by teens who throw bodily fluids − urine, feces and semen − on them. At Indian River, kids no longer have access to water bottles.

Incarcerated teens described frustration at being locked in their rooms with nothing to do. At Indian River the rate of children being locked in their rooms due to staffing issues increased 40% in 2024 over 2023. At Circleville the rate increased 77%.

An eight-month investigation by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository and other USA TODAY Network outlets published in November detailed how staff shortages, mandatory overtime and escalating violence plagued the youth criminal justice system.

The investigation is a finalist for the prestigious Scripps Howard Journalism Award for Local/Regional Investigative Reporting.

Advertisement

The investigation uncovered that employees and kids are injured − sometimes seriously − in fights and assaults that erupt without warning. Guards struggle to keep order and are often dealing with children they cannot control. Within three years of leaving a state youth prison, four in 10 teens are incarcerated again in either the juvenile or adult system. And those who don’t return to prison face a higher likelihood of dying an early death.

The youth prisons are operated by the Ohio Department of Youth Services, which reports to the governor, while most local juvenile detention centers are run by juvenile court judges.

Just days after publication of the newspapers’ investigation, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine launched a task force to examine the Department of Youth Services and the state’s juvenile justice system. The task force made 26 recommendations, including closing the youth prisons and replacing them with smaller, closer-to-home facilities.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.



Source link

Advertisement

Ohio

Sieh Bangura runs for 149 yards and a score, helps Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 in Frisco Bowl

Published

on

Sieh Bangura runs for 149 yards and a score, helps Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 in Frisco Bowl


FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Sieh Bangura rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown and Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 on Tuesday night to win the Frisco Bowl.

The Bobcats (9-4) have won their last seven bowl games — dating to 2017 — after losing eight of their first 10.

Defensive coordinator and interim head coach John Hauser led Ohio to this victory after head coach Brian Smith was fired earlier in the month for having an affair with an undergraduate student.

Ohio’s Parker Navarro had a 5-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper five minutes into the second quarter for the only score of the first half. The lead was 6-0 after David Dellenbach’s extra-point kick hit the right upright.

Advertisement

UNLV (10-4) had a first down on the Bobcats’ 33-yard line with 32 second left, but DJ Walker picked off an Anthony Colandrea pass in the end zone to keep it 6-0.

Bangura scored on a 23-yard run less than four minutes into the third quarter, and Navarro passed to Chase Hendricks for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

Hendricks muffed a punt at the end of UNLV’s first possession and Kayden McGee recovered at the Ohio 30. The Rebels settled for a career-long 50-yard field goal by Ramon Villela to cut it to 14-3.

Dellenbach kicked a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Colandrea scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the 2 to get the Rebels within 17-10 with 4:45 remaining. UNLV never got the ball back in falling to 4-4 all time in bowl games.

Navarro completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards with an interception. Bangura did his damage on 19 carries.

Advertisement

Colandrea totaled 184 yards on 19-for-30 passing.

UNLV had the nation’s longest run of scoring at least 20 points end at 35 games.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Ohio

Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us

Published

on

Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us


For the second time in two years, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Steubenville Police Department have joined forces to combat human trafficking crimes.

In October, the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals for sex trafficking offenses, including men from Follansbee and St. Clairsville.

Earlier, in July 2024, 10 men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia were apprehended and charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools.

“It just goes to show that human trafficking happens everywhere,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This isn’t a big city thing, it happens in small towns, it happens out in the country. It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us.

Advertisement

“I am hopeful that the message is going out around Ohio and Steubenville and the Mahoning Valley — Don’t Buy Sex in Ohio!”

He also highlighted the support provided to survivors during these operations.

“We always have social service providers that partner with us that are on site. So, whether it’s something simple like a meal or a shower or something as necessary as an addiction treatment bed — we’re there to try and help provide the resource,” Yost added.

Comment with Bubbles

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Advertisement

For those affected by human trafficking, a victim services directory is available here.



Source link

Continue Reading

Ohio

3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials

Published

on

3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials


NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three kids, ages 12, 11, and 8, led Ohio police on a chase in a stolen car on Saturday, according to police.

According to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, an 11-year-old was driving a car that was stolen from Parma, WEWS reported.

Officers chased the car on Harvard Avenue west over the Denison Bridge. Shortly after the chase began, the car crashed into a house on Denison Avenue, police said.

No injuries were reported.

Advertisement

Newburgh Heights PD said two brothers, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, along with a 12-year-old, began running from the police.

After police caught them, the kids told officers they watched YouTube videos to learn how to steal cars, police said.

According to the department, the boys were released to their parents, and police will file charges in juvenile court.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending