New Juvenile Court Administration Discovers Deep Debt

One month into her administration of the Summit County Juvenile Court, Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio revealed today the court has been left in such serious financial condition by the administration of former Juvenile Court Judge Judith Hunter that some existing programs could be discontinued.

An extraordinarily high incarceration rate for Summit County juveniles in state detention facilities coupled with a 5.78% reduction in state funding to counties by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) has resulted in a deficit of $502,000.

The funding came from the Reclaim Ohio grant which was established to help counties pay for local programming designed to aid troubled youths from entering correctional institutes. Under Reclaim Ohio, each county is budgeted a yearly amount that can be used for those purposes. However, that amount is reduced if the amount spent housing county youths in DYS facilities exceeds the pre-determined budget. From July through November 2002, county youths sent to DYS facilities rose an average of 20% per month, causing the significant deficit now facing the court.

The Reclaim Ohio deficit has left the court without the ability to finance programs from its Youth Services Fund. Termination notices for programs provided by the East Akron Community House, Family Services, Oriana House, Safe Landing, the YMCA and Youth Advocate Program were sent last week.

The court faces other financial challenges, as well. To date, in excess of $150,000 in unpaid bills have been discovered, a result of the prior administration’s failure to pay for such items as food service for the detention facility and computer maintenance expenses. In addition, more than $100,000 in attorney fee applications were submitted as early as October 2002 and were not processed in that calendar year.

“Unfortunately, my administration is left with no alternatives,” said Judge Teodosio. “The debt we inherited and the extent of the cuts make it impossible for us to continue these programs without assistance.”

Judge Teodosio indicated the court would be meeting with members from the administration of County Executive James B. McCarthy to discuss alternatives. Judge Teodosio is also considering asking for an independent audit of the court’s books.

In the interim, she said, the court will be more aggressive in seeking alternative funding sources, managing costs as effectively as possible and looking for volunteers to meet the needs of the community’s youth.