Gavarone Appointed Co-Chair Of Delinquent Children Study Committee

COLUMBUS—Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the Study Committee to Evaluate the Placement of Delinquent Children in Residential Facilities by Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon). 

The study committee will focus on the placement process for adjudicated delinquent youth in Ohio, who are children under the age of 18 and have committed an act that would be considered a felony if committed by an adult. Juvenile judges are given the discretion to divert these youth into community-based residential facilities and programs rather than a Department of Youth Services correctional facility.

“This committee has been formed to identify the gaps, and to see what we’re doing to make sure juveniles who have committed crimes are getting the services they need in the right setting to integrate back into society safely and protect the public,” said Senator Gavarone. “We currently have kids who have committed really violent offenses being placed in communities who are not equipped to deal with the outbreak of crime that then occurs. We’ve got to make sure that people are safe.”

In addition to Senator Gavarone, President McColley appointed Senators Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) and Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) to the committee. 

The joint legislative committee, which will be co-chaired by Representative Andrea White (R-Kettering), will also consist of representatives from the Department of Children and Youth, the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Behavioral Health, juvenile court judges, public defenders, and various local government officials. 

“It’s going to be a great working group when you look at who’s going to be on this committee,” said Senator Gavarone. “We’ll be able to listen to people who work on this day in and day out.”

The first meeting of the Study Committee to Evaluate the Placement of Delinquent Children in Residential Facilities was held on August 24, 2026.
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