i Ohio » Juvenile court

Judicial selection, 2022

• Elected

• Appointed

• Combination

Judicial specialization, 2022

• All mixed case types

• Mostly mixed

• Mostly specialized

Caseload assignment, 2022

• Mixed assignment methods

• Individual discretion

• Statute/State court rules

Judicial experience, training, and tools, 2022

• Qualification Requirements

• Required Annual Training

• Required Risk/Need Assessments and Pre-Dispositional Reports

• Juvenile Justice Bench Books

Courtroom shackling, 2015

No statewide restriction

On 7/1/16, a Rule of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio (Sup.R. 5.01) became effective, requiring local rule development on Juvenile restraints.  Local rules must create a presumption that physical restraints are not to be utilized on children appearing in proceedings before the court or division unless found necessary by the judge or magistrate.  When used, restraints must be the least restrictive necessary and applied in a manner that does not unnecessarily restrict the movement of the child’s hands.

Competency, 2015

Ohio’s Juvenile Code has juvenile-specific provisions for competency determinations and related matters when youth are alleged delinquent. The basis for juvenile incompetency can be due to mental illness, intellectual disability, developmental disability, or otherwise lacking in mental capacity. Statutory procedures align with the Dusky standard and proscribe requirements in 9 different sections for court procedures, evaluations and dispositions.

• No juvenile standard

• Juvenile standard is the adult standard

• Juvenile justice standard exists

• JJ standard includes developmental immaturity