Ohio To Close Youth Correctional Facility
Friday, September 25, 2009 5:56 PM
The Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility will close its doors next May.
"While they [the employees] understand it's business and economics and the numbers drive the decision, it's also very personal because it affects them deeply, they care about the kids," said Martha Spohn with the Department of Youth Services.
Currently the Mohican Facility located in Perrysville houses 148 kids. They are currently working their way through a 6-month program.
"It's expected right now that most, if not all of the youth here will finish the program prior to the closure." said Spohn.
For those remaining a plan is in place, "a task force is being put together to look at those youth to determine where there placement will be based on security and risk needs," said Andrea Kruse, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Youth Services.
The facility currently has a staff of just over 200. Several unions will be working with the employees to help with job placement. They could be transferred to one of the other facilities across the state.
The only girls facility is in Delaware, the Perrysville location is the one slated to close. The remaining boys facilities are in Cleveland, Massillon, Circleville and Franklin Furnace.
Spohn said, "the director had been talking to all of us for months, as we watched the state of Ohio face a budget crisis, that it would be necessary to close another facility."
Aside from budget problems, the state has seen a massive decline in population.
Kruse said, "our population has gone from an average of 1,700 in 2007 to today's population of 1173."
That math equals the subtraction of one state facility.
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