Cuyahoga County Council recently appointed some big players to an advisory committee that is supposed to help bring more accountability to the juvenile justice system.

The committee members have a monumental task: Provide a full review of the juvenile court’s existing programs and look at how often kids who have court cases recidivate – or commit new crimes after their initial court case. From there, the group will examine best practices from elsewhere in the country and make recommendations on what it could take to make reforms here. Their report is due by Dec. 31. 

Cuyahoga County Council Member Michael Gallagher, who chairs the council’s Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee, announced the creation of the advisory committee last December. It will operate as the Juvenile Court Advisory Subcommittee. Gallagher was motivated in part by questions raised by Greater Cleveland Congregations and other community advocates about the number of children in Cuyahoga County being transferred to adult court and the quality of representation provided by private attorneys paid to represent them.

“Their charge is simple,” Gallagher said. “Help us help the court, help us help our constituents with concerns, and help us, importantly, help the children of Cuyahoga County that are in unfortunate situations.”

The five members appointed on April 1 are: 

  • Ron Adrine, retired Cleveland Municipal Court administrative judge
  • Marvin Cross, a former Cleveland police commander who now works as a security consultant
  • Former Common Pleas Court Judge Robert McClelland
  • Bridget Gibbons, a deputy administrator at the county’s  juvenile court. 
  • Jennifer Blumhagen Yarham, executive director at Applewood Centers Inc., a nonprofit that contracts with the county to provide mental health services and residential treatment for children. 

The group has yet to convene. When they do, its meetings will be open, so the public will be able to follow along. 

One issue notably left out of the list of things to be examined? Whether more kids accused of serious crimes would benefit from being represented by the County Public Defender’s office. 

Criminal Justice Reporter (she/her)
I write about the criminal legal system, explaining the complexities and shedding light on injustices/inequities in the system and centering the experiences of justice-involved individuals, both victims and people who go through the criminal legal system and their families. I highlight ways in which Cleveland residents are working on the ground to reduce crime to make their communities safer.

Community and Special Projects Editor (she/her)
I foster civic and accountability reporting that is inspired by and responsive to community questions, curiosity and demand so Clevelanders have the opportunities they deserve to understand and participate in local democracy and build power.