Ohio Follows DOJ's Order, Reduces Youth Seclusion

After being challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice, Ohio's juvenile justice agency says it sharply reduced the solitary confinement of its young inmates last year. A new report by the Ohio Department of Youth Services shows seclusion of inmates declined by more than 66 percent in 2014 from the previous year. The report says that average solitary confinement hours per youth dropped to about 153 hours last year compared with about 489 hours in 2013. The state reached a settlement with the Justice Department last year to dramatically reduce the use of seclusion of juveniles with mental health issues in juvenile prisons. The Justice Department alleged seclusion violates the boys' due process rights by depriving them of education, exercise and mental health care.