Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Court Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Juvenile court asks commissioners to fund staff, transport van as it expands family-focused programs
Summary
Judge Bloom told the Hamilton County commissioners the juvenile court’s 2026 budget seeks targeted positions for detention and direct-care staff, a transport van, and investment in data and programs—including probation transformation and PBIS—aimed at reducing recidivism and improving outcomes for youth and families.
Judge Bloom, speaking for Hamilton County Juvenile Court, presented the court’s 2026 operating and capital requests and asked commissioners to fund targeted direct-care positions and one transport van to support rising case complexity and transportation needs.
The judge said the court’s priorities are community safety, rehabilitation of children and families, and reducing recidivism. To pursue those goals the court is emphasizing data-driven approaches and replacing or upgrading aging case-management systems that limit timely service and case flow.
“We really want to present what we've been doing, what we've used it, how we're stewarding taxpayer dollars and what the results have been,” Judge Bloom said, summarizing the presentation and the team’s work.
Bloom described a probation-transformation effort that retrains juvenile probation officers to act more as coaches engaged with families rather than only as enforcers. The court also has introduced PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) inside the detention center to create predictable rules, encourage pro-social behavior, and allow youth to earn privileges while detained.
Those program changes are paired with community partnerships: the court cited a Cincinnati Zoo garden project, in-facility music and arts instruction and panels with people with lived experience. Bloom said the drug treatment court was recertified by the Supreme Court of Ohio and the court is exploring docket expansion with JFS.
On results, Bloom highlighted the assessment/diversion center’s outcomes: an 83.5% success rate measured as no new charges for participants one year after engagement. She said the assessment center’s frequent contact and referral work with county providers are central to that result.
The court also described a planned dual-status docket to coordinate cases where a child has simultaneous dependency (JFS) and delinquency proceedings—a complex approach intended to reduce repeated system involvement and better protect youth.
Bloom noted the court applied to the state Department of Youth Services (DYS) for Community Corrections Facility (CCF) startup funding for the Hillcrest property but that the recent round awarded funds to Cuyahoga County. She said the court may reapply in future rounds.
On budget specifics, Bloom said the court reduced some requested new positions after internal prioritization; the remaining personnel requests focus on detention and direct-care staff as population and JFS-related cases rise. The capital request is a transport van; Bloom said the county rotates vehicles out to meet safety and mileage requirements.
Commissioners asked for follow-up data on filings and caseload counts; Bloom said she would provide the county with the detailed numbers. The court flagged a records-scanning and digitalization request tied to a change in retention law and recommended following peer-county practice for secure disposal.
Next steps: the juvenile court will send requested data on filings and staffing to the commission as the county finalizes 2026 budget deliberations.
