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Lorain County judges warn detention overcrowding and mental-health mandates are driving juvenile budget increases
Summary
At a Nov. 18 budget work session, Lorain County domestic relations and juvenile judges said an aging detention home, mandated hospital transports and rising juvenile violence have increased staffing and overtime needs; they asked commissioners to aim to hold court spending near last year’s level while the county and courts seek shared-service savings.
At a Nov. 18 budget work session, judges from the Lorain County domestic relations and juvenile courts told county commissioners that mounting detention costs and new mental-health procedures have pushed their tax-budget request higher and constrained opportunities for cuts.
"Our detention home for the juvenile delinquents in Lorain County was built in 1957," Administrative Judge Frank Janek said, listing age-related maintenance and staffing needs as central drivers of increased spending. Court administrators said the facility has 28 cells for males but has often held more than 28 juveniles, forcing some youths to sleep in day rooms and requiring additional staff and overtime.
Court administrator Emily…
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