Sentencing Based on Research and Science Win for Youth Offenders

Eve Stratton, of counsel in the Vorys Columbus office who prior to joining Vorys was a justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio, co-authored an article for Dayton Daily News about the recently passed Senate Bill 256 which provides guidelines for the sentencing of youth offenders based on research and science.

The article states:

“With everyone’s focus on COVID-19, many ‘wins’ in 2020 have gone unnoticed.

As advocates for juvenile justice, and as members of a coalition that strives for better outcomes for Ohio’s youths and families, we are delighted to share the impact of the recently passed Senate Bill 256 as a reason to celebrate.

The bill accomplishes two things: it creates guidelines based on research and science to assist judges in sentencing youth under 18; and it provides youths who are or will be convicted and given a de facto life sentence the chance to work toward a meaningful opportunity for parole.”

To read the full article on the Dayton Daily News website, click here. (Subscription may be required).