Ohio Sentencing Project (7/23/21)

Columbus, OH - New data from The Sentencing Project shows that striking racial disparities persist in Ohio’s youth incarceration system. Black youth are over five times more likely than white youth to be incarcerated in Ohio. 

Ohio’s youth incarceration system has a long history of disproportionately impacting Black and brown youth, despite young people of all backgrounds engaging in risky behavior at the same rates. Black and brown youth are subjected to more punitive treatment, locked up away from their families and communities at a higher rate than their white counterparts. Although the data shows a slight decrease in the disparity for Black youth versus white youth since 2015, the rate remains egregious. This data comes as earlier this year, a poll was released showing 74 percent of Ohioans support requiring states to address racial inequities in the youth justice system. (Read more...)