Ohio Juvenile Reentry Reform Planning Initiative

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and are returning to their communities. Developing a juvenile reentry system that reduces recidivism and improves positive youth outcomes is extremely challenging for even the most sophisticated state or local juvenile correctional agency. This program will provide funding for 12-month planning grants during which time state or local-level juvenile justice agencies will convene a reentry task force and develop and finalize a comprehensive statewide juvenile reentry systems reform strategic plan. This plan will guide efforts to reduce the historical baseline recidivism rates for youth returning from confinement in state or locally run and/or managed juvenile correctional facilities. The plan will also guide efforts to reform the system to include: (1) improved assessment policies and practices, (2) a more integrated approach to prerelease services and planning and post-release services and supervision that reflects what research demonstrates improves youth outcomes, and (3) enhanced program/policy monitoring, quality assessments, implementation supports, accountability practices, and youth outcome data collection, analysis, reporting, and decision-making. When grantees complete their strategic plan, OJJDP will invite them to submit applications for implementation grants of between $1 and $2 million to implement their plans. Future funding decisions for implementation grants will be competitive and will consider the quality and comprehensiveness of the strategic plan and associated solicitation deliverables.

The current recidivism rate for Ohio juvenile corrections after 3 years of release is 46.4%. Recidivism is measured as a return to DYS through either a parole revocation or recommitment on new felony charges, or admission to the adult system. The goal for this project is to reduce recidivism by 3-5% within the first year of the Blueprint implementation. The positive youth outcomes goals include at a minimum: reduce youth misbehavior; improve basic skills proficiency; and increase family, court and community involvement. The target population will be 140 medium to high risk youth assessed by the Ohio Youth Assessment System, incarcerated at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, and returning to the three pilot counties. The Taskforce will assist by conducting a system strengths and weaknesses assessment, identifying youth and family reentry needs, involving available community resources, and overseeing evaluation of the pilot. CA/NCF