In May 2022, a Cleveland City Council Safety Committee meeting sharply focused on a perception of increased juvenile crime in the city. After a lengthy discussion, Councilwoman Stephanie Howse heard enough,
"We are trying to paint our city and our young people that they are totally out of control when we have failed them. We have failed them."
Councilwoman Howse asked for more information on what led the city's young people to commit crimes and urged preventative measures.
Howse was indeed in sync with the people of Ohio. In a 2021 poll, 81% of Ohioans favored a youth justice system focused on prevention and rehabilitation rather than punishment and incarceration. While federal detention is trending downward, black and indigenous youth are still incarcerated and sentenced at higher rates than their white peers. It costs $279,805 to keep a child imprisoned but only $13,000 per year for public education.
Join us for an enlightening discussion. Piet van Lier, Senior Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio, will moderate The City Club of Cleveland forum. Panelists include Brooke Burns, Managing Counsel, Youth Defense Department, Office of the Ohio Public Defender; Stephanie D. Howse, Ward 7 Councilwoman, Cleveland City Council; and Leah Winsberg, Staff Attorney, Children's Law Center, Inc.
and join The City Club of Cleveland and us for lunch and a lively discussion.
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