OHIO — Franklin County is expanding its efforts to help youth get back on track through a new program focused on re-entry efforts for youth leaving detention centers.

Judge Lasheyl Stroud, Lead Juvenile Judge for the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court said the launching of the program allows the county to collaborate on re-entry by pulling all departments involved together to address the issue of youth who are coming out of a detention center or are one step away from entering a detention center. 

“So our dedicated re-entry department now gives an opportunity to ensure that any youth who has any type of separation from home has a plan implemented in place in hopes of us reducing recidivism and ensuring that we are connecting them appropriately within the community.”

For Stroud, the work being done is important and being able to be a part of it is personal. The Columbus native said youth from the Linden area in Franklin County is one of the most common zip codes seen in court.

“I’ve had an opportunity to see growing up, the impact that juvenile court has on families, as well as seeing people who I care about who are personally affected by juvenile court as well and then being licensed in Ohio for the past 21 years, I’ve had the opportunity to represent youth and parents in our court,” Stroud said.

That insight has prompted Stroud to make sure that youth and their families get all the necessary resources for rehabilitation, so those involved in the process can avoid limitations because of their age.

The program has also opened the door for the county to work with organizations in the community that would benefit youth, while being able to strengthen efforts toward rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.