justice for youth is not just possible, it’s necessary.
what we do
Policy and Advocacy create structural change. Education builds awareness and shifts public opinion. Organizing builds the power needed to demand and defend those changes. When done in coordination, they can dismantle oppressive systems and build the alternatives our communities need.
policy & Advocacy
We will advocate for and support policy change that mandates alternatives to incarceration like prevention, diversion and rehabilitation.
education
We will expand support for restorative solutions by informing the public.
Community organizing
We will inspire action and activism for a movement towards sustainable change.
our people
our mission
The Juvenile Justice Coalition serves as an advocacy vehicle to empower youth, families, and communities impacted by the juvenile justice system through policy reform, advocacy, education, and community organizing.
our vision
We envision an Ohio where restorative practices, equitable resources, and healing replace a punitive juvenile justice system— an Ohio where every young person and family is supported in reaching their full potential and empowered to thrive in safe, supportive, and stable communities.
WE BELIEVE
Youth-Centered advocacy
We believe that all youth deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. We will not accept systems that harm youth as inevitable. We advocate for policy reforms and systemic shifts that prioritize prevention, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions.
education
We are committed to informing and engaging the public in understanding the harms of the current system and the possibilities for a more just and supportive alternative.
community power
We commit to expanding and uplifting the voices of directly impacted individuals, families, and communities. We believe transformative change comes from the ground up—through collective action, education, and organizing.
restorative reinvestment
We advocate for restorative practices that promote healing, accountability, and community wellbeing. We believe in reinvesting public resources away from systems of punishment and toward diversion opportunities that support young people such as education, housing, behavioral health care, and workforce development.
equity & justice
We recognize that systemic inequities and systems of oppression, especially around race, class, and geography drive the injustices of the juvenile justice system. We work to dismantle these structures through policy and practices rooted in fairness and inclusion.
The current juvenile justice system faces significant challenges that limit its ability to truly support young people. Too often, it emphasizes punishment over support, separation over healing, and control over care, especially impacting youth from marginalized communities. Rather than resolving the root causes of harm, it can unintentionally contribute to cycles of trauma and disconnection.
We believe in a brighter, more compassionate approach—one grounded in restorative practices, equitable opportunities, and community-based healing. When we invest in schools, families, mental health care, and youth development, we create conditions for all young people to grow, succeed, and thrive in their communities.
Our commitment is to reimagine what justice for youth can look like. We envision a future where young people are met with understanding and opportunity, where every child and family are supported in reaching their full potential—and where accountability and safety are achieved through care, not confinement.
our history
The Juvenile Justice Coalition is an advocacy organization working with and on behalf of Ohio youth and families involved with the juvenile justice system. We believe in a more restorative, equitable, and community-based juvenile justice system where accountability and safety are achieved through care, not confinement—a better, more just future is possible.
For over 30 years, the Juvenile Justice Coalition operated as a volunteer-led community organization, driven by the passion and urgency of directly impacted individuals, families, and advocates. Our commitment has always been rooted in the belief that young people deserve restorative solutions, supportive communities, and equitable opportunities.
Throughout our history, we have played a key role in many of Ohio’s most significant juvenile justice reforms, including:
Advocating for the elimination of mandatory juvenile bindovers to the adult court system
Advancing youth sentencing reform, including limits on juvenile life without parole
Promoting alternatives to detention and expanding community-based interventions
Supporting school discipline reform to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline
Championing racial equity and bringing community voices into statewide policy decisions
We do this work because we know the juvenile justice system can be better. We continue to grow as a movement rooted in policy, advocacy, education, and community organizing because justice for youth is not just possible, it’s necessary.
