(The Center Square) – A state-government-appointed working group aimed at overhauling Ohio’s juvenile justice system wants to keep youngsters out of the state system longer and give judges more sentencing discretion.

The recommendations come in the form of new bipartisan legislation more than a year after the group developed its proposals. The group first started meeting in November 2023.

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Sens. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo, and Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, introduced Senate Bill 270, which they say would encourage rehabilitation and let local judicial systems determine how to help youngsters in their areas.

“As a lawyer whose primary and consistent work has been in the juvenile justice setting, this much-needed legislation will provide guidance for courts and juvenile service providers,” Hicks-Hudson said in a statement. “We must make sure that our community and juvenile justice workers are safe, while also focusing on providing appropriate strategies to improve outcomes for children and their families.”

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The changes in the bill include:

• Increase the minimum age of juveniles sent to the Department of Youth Services from 10 years old to 14.

• Allow a judge’s discretion when sentencing youth in gun-related cases instead of the current mandatory sentencing.

• Prohibit first-time non-violent felony offenses from being placed in Department of Youth Services state facilities.

The working group report also recommended nonlegislative changes such as replacing large youth facilities with more smaller ones, hiring outside consultants, teaming with local organizations to help youngsters better reenter communities and funding changes.