Judge Carrie Bloom outlines diversion-focused juvenile court programs and in-detention education

Judge Carrie Bloom told members of the City Council’s Youth & Human Services Committee and the Cincinnati Public Schools board that the juvenile court has shifted toward diversion and rehabilitative supports, and presented recent outcome data and new programs designed to keep children out of deeper court involvement.

"Nearly 23,000 people came through the court last year," Bloom said, illustrating the volume of youth and families the court serves and stressing that most cases are non-delinquency matters such as dependency or custody filings. She said federal and state law favor offering diversion before a case is formally filed: "The preference of the law is that cases are diverted before they're officially filed," she told the room.

Bloom highlighted the court’s assessment center and an expanded team of service navigators as central to that strategy, saying the programs have yielded measurable reductions in repeat adjudications. "Over 80% of kids who had the pre-trial assistance of our assessment center did not receive a new adjudication," she said, and noted that 74% of youth charged with felonies who received navigator support had no new adjudication within a year.

Why it matters: The court’s approach reduces the time young people spend in detention and aims to connect families to services that address the problems behind court involvement, from housing and medical care to education. Bloom pointed to national and state data showing that longer detention stays increase the chance of future incarceration and lower the likelihood of graduation.

Programs and partnerships Bloom described:

- "Summer of Discovery": a pre-trial/engagement set of tasks—getting a library card, signing up for a rec pass and returning a report card—that does not dismiss charges but connects youth to community supports and school registration. Bloom described it as a way to ensure children enter the school year connected to services.

- Girls Court: an eight-week, youth-driven wraparound program formed with partners including the Commission on Women and Girls, intended to provide tailored services, mentorship and follow-up for girls involved with the juvenile system.

- Education in detention: Bloom and board members praised joint work with Cincinnati Public Schools that enables credit recovery and graduations inside the detention center; board members said 24 students have earned high-school diplomas since 2023, a significant rise from prior years.

Bloom credited changes in culture and cross-system collaboration—including with schools, community organizations and law enforcement—for recent progress, and described the court’s use of state "reclaim" funds to support community-based rehabilitation services targeted to the highest-risk youth.

What officials asked and what comes next: Board and council members sought detail on Girls Court, the legal limits that govern holding youth after arrest, and how the court supports families preemptively. Bloom said parents can call the court and that the court’s truancy and diversion dockets focus on removing barriers (bus passes, furniture, access to services) rather than on punishment. The judge said many programmatic elements will continue to evolve, and she invited board and council members to help sustain partnerships that support youth outcomes.

Bloom closed by reframing success as community-wide safety and opportunity: "It is not success until everyone who lives in any community feels safe," she said. The court plans to continue expanding diversion services and community partnerships and to report outcomes to partners as programs proceed.