UUCC Shows Up at December 6 GCC Action

Over 934 GCC leaders and guests heard compelling information and facts from experts about Cuyahoga County’s overuse of Discretionary Youth Bindover, the process of transferring children under age 18 to adult court and, if convicted, sentencing them to adult prison. 

A highlight of the evening was the testimony of Ronnie Cannon, who spent 19 years in adult prison after being bound over to adult court at age 16. “We talk about giving youth a second chance,” said Cannon. “According to my experience, we are not even given a first chance.” 

A panel consisting of Cannon, who is now a Community Engagement Manager at Towards Employment; Gabriella Celeste, policy director for the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University; Leah Winsberg, staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center; Katherine Sato, assistant state public defender at the Youth Defense Department of the Office of the Ohio Public Defender; and TaKasha Smith, executive director and policy director at the Juvenile Justice Coalition; shared recommendations for changes in youth bindover policies and practice in Cuyahoga County.

The public hearing was also attended by Juvenile Judge-elect Anne McDonough and County Executive-elect Chris Ronayne.

GCC is scheduling meetings after the first of the year with Judge-elect McDonough, County Executive-elect Ronayne and County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley to discuss how to reform the practice of Discretionary Youth Bindover.

Here is a link to a recording of last night’s public hearing: https://youtu.be/8MagmHYWvJQ.

Here are the handouts from the meeting:
https://linktr.ee/greaterclecong

Here is WEWS Channel 5’s coverage of the action:

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/cleveland-man-church-group-want-changes-in-how-cuyahoga-juveniles-are-sent-to-adult-court