BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Bob Taft, the Republican candidate for governor, wants to hold parents more responsible for children who commit crimes and give judges more options when sentencing juveniles.
Noting the rise in juvenile crime over the past decade, Mr. Taft called for the changes at a press conference Monday.
"We must re-write the book on juvenile justice in Ohio if we are to ensure public safety and enlightened treatment of juvenile offenders," Mr. Taft said.
He called for passage of a law that would give juvenile courts the authority to mandate that a parent take part in counseling, drug rehabilitation or community service with the child. Judges would have the authority to hold uncooperative parents in contempt of court, under the plan.
Mr. Taft also called for:
Requiring juvenile courts to notify a child's school within one day of a school-age child being arrested for a crime involving violence or substance abuse.
Passage of a law that would open juvenile records to adult courts, prosecutors and law enforcement, but not the general public.
A change in the law to allow victim testimony in all juvenile court proceedings involving violent felony offenses. Current law gives judges discretion over victim testimony.
Requiring DNA samples on violent juvenile offenders, in addition to photos and fingerprints. The information would be housed at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, an arm of the attorney general's office.
The plan drew criticism from Mr. Taft's Democratic rival, former Ohio Attorney General Lee Fisher of Cleveland.
"His record does not match his tough-on-crime rhetoric," said Fisher campaign spokeswoman Judy Barbao.
In 1977, while serving in the state legislature, Mr. Taft voted for a bill that would have either sealed juvenile records or notified the juvenile of the right to have the records sealed, she said.
In 1976, Mr. Taft voted against a bill to impose a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases, although he now supports the Brady Law, which requires a waiting period. Mr. Fisher also supports the Brady Law.
Mr. Taft's proposals prompted praise from Geno Natalucci-Persichetti, director of the Department of Youth Services (DYS).
"Those issues are pretty much on target in terms of the needs identified nationally and around the state," he said.
Across the nation, a new wave of parental responsibility laws is making a stronger statement about parents who cannot or do not control their children.
In 1988, California passed an anti-gang law that makes parents criminally liable for failing to supervise their children properly. The charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Mr. Natalucci-Persichetti also lauded the plan to have courts and schools share information.
"I think school districts and school boards need to realize that they can't solve truancy and school violence problems by themselves," he said. "They need to work more closely with the courts, social service agencies and law enforcement."
The Taft plan also calls for amending Ohio law to give judges the power to order short-term county detention of up to 90 days for juveniles convicted of delinquency offenses. The status of the current law is unclear.
A Wood County judge has determined that such short-term detention is legal, while a Franklin County judge ruled it is illegal.
Mr. Natalucci-Persichetti also said Ohio and other states are responding to a national call to make juvenile justice systems more friendly to victims.
Ohio recently created an Office of Victim Services. It is charged with notifying victims when their offenders have been committed to a DYS facility.
