SUBMITTED BY LOGAN COUNTY FAMILY COURT JUDGE KIM KELLOGG-MARTIN
The Logan County Commissioners are responsible for providing a juvenile detention center for the Court and community. This facility has been run well for almost 20 years by the Sheriff’s Office. Logan County Family Court is willing to assume the responsibility of running the Juvenile Detention Center.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services conducted an on-site visit of the Logan County Juvenile Detention Center on May 6. The audit concluded that the JDC was compliant on over 350 metrics, including standards on administration, fiscal, personnel, training, records, safety, security, food, hygiene, medical, juvenile rights, behavioral management, and programming.
During interviews with detained youth and JDC staff, there were no reported complaints. The children reported feeling safe at the facility. The Logan County JDC also houses children from Hardin County, and brings in income from its contract with Hardin County. Despite receiving revenue from the schools and Hardin County, the JDC requires funding from the general budget.
The County Commissioners have been considering closing the JDC due to concerns regarding operation costs. The JDC must meet the legal requirements of the Department of Youth Services, which includes a certain number of officers based upon the population. It costs approximately $1 million to keep six beds for Logan County and six beds for Hardin County. The majority of the budget goes to salaries and fringe benefits.
Family Court’s Juvenile Probation Staff go into the detention facility and teach programs designed to rehabilitate our youth. This will end if the Commissioners close the JDC.
The ability for local service providers to work directly with the kids will end also. The plan to send all of the children to other counties will result in additional work for many employees, resulting in overtime and transportation expenses.
The closing of the JDC requires the Commissioners to enter into contracts with other detention facilities. Detained youth will be sent to other facilities across the state.
Available bed space is dwindling in Ohio. Law enforcement officers often have to place a child in detention. Without a local JDC, law enforcement will be forced to transport only the most dangerous children to another county’s facility. The Court will have to be very selective as to which children are sent and hope that a bed is available.
The schools strongly oppose the closing of this facility for many reasons. The child’s education will be disrupted. Our children will develop unhealthy relationships with other troubled children from out of county who may travel into our community. Domestic violence will increase within the household.
Hardin County Judge Steve Christopher has made it very clear that in the long run, we will spend more money and regret closing the JDC.
Family Court is sympathetic to the financial challenges that the commissioners face. The Commissioners recently found the money to fund two new positions. The Court believes that it can find the funds to continue operating this facility. JDC should be a priority for Logan County.
Approximately 70 percent of the County’s budget is allocated to law enforcement, the courts and the county prosecutor because the law mandates services to protect our community. Government has never been in the business of making a profit. We rely upon the hard-working people of our county.
The JDC is a great asset to this community. Quality services are being provided to troubled youth. The majority of youth in detention do not enjoy the benefit of healthy and effective parenting. The JDC Staff and local service providers truly care about the children.
If the JDC closes, we lose that immediate personal connection, which is critical in reaching our youth to help them become productive members of our community. Indeed, our children are the future of our community.
Please take the time to express your feelings with our commissioners so they will make JDC a priority.
If you would like to share your thoughts on the potential closure of the JDC, you can contact the Logan County Commissioners Office at [email protected], (937) 599-7283, or send a letter to: Attn: Logan County Commissioners, 117 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, OH 43311.