Stark County needs to be at the table when Ohio discusses future of Indian River

Gov. Mike DeWine, in a recent wide-ranging interview with editors and reporters with the USA TODAY Network Ohio, endorsed a proposal to shutter the state's three youth prisons and replace them with smaller facilities.

It's an idea that follows an eight-month, joint investigation by the Canton Repository, Massillon Independent, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and Akron Beacon Journal that found significant problems at the youth prisons and detention centers in the state. It also comes at a time when the state is considering replacing the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility.

DeWine, who appointed a panel of experts to make recommendations following the investigation, suggested opening a dozen or so smaller lockups that would be closer to home for those incarcerated.

"I think it's the right thing to do," he told USA TODAY Network Ohio. "It's important for safety of the juveniles. I think it's important for the safety of the staff. I think we'll be better able to deliver services to these juveniles in a smaller setting."

We would be in favor of any change that would improve the conditions for not only the thousands of youth offenders serving time but also the employees who have to deal with an unsafe working environment. While the proposal still needs to be studied — including how much it would cost to maintain and staff more facilities — it appears it would be easier for families whose children are shipped away, in some cases hours away, to stay connected.

But such a move — which could take years and require legislative approval — would have a significant impact in Stark County, specifically in Massillon.

The community is home to the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, which houses some of the worst youth offenders in Ohio. This newspaper chronicled not only a riot at the facility in October 2022, but also a brutal attack on a corrections officer who continues to suffer from his injuries.

The other youth prisons are located in Highland Hills in Cuyahoga County and Circleville in Pickaway County.

Massillon Mayor Jamie Slutz, a retired police officer who just took office this year, rightfully is concerned about the potential economic impact on the city if Indian River were closed. The prison employs about 280 people.

Perhaps, the facility could be repurposed, as Slutz suggested, into one of the smaller lockups.

We hope the mayor, along with other local officials and state lawmakers from Stark County, seek to be actively engaged in the discussions about the future of Indian River. Stark County, including Massillon, deserves a seat at the table.

We don't want to see a vacant youth prison in Massillon. The community already has to deal with the unsightly, vacant buildings that were once home to a state mental hospital.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark, Massillon need to provide input on future of Ohio youth prisons