Reforming Re-Entry

The Ohio Public Defender Commission (OPD) will implement a reentry support and service coordination program for youth in Ohio who are released from the Ohio Department of Youth
Services to reduce recidivism for youth who have felony convictions. Program activities include creating a survey to ascertain youth and family needs, training staff to use a screening tool to identify youth and family strengths and develop a reentry plan, piloting service coordination in a local public defender office, and hiring full-time social workers at the OPD to replicate the pilot. Expected outcomes include the development of a reentry support program at the central office of the OPD and training other defender offices throughout the state.