The Buckeye Institute has provided written testimony to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill 211, which would require judges to consider whether an offender is the primary caretaker of a child during sentencing decisions.
Alex M. Certo, a legal fellow at The Buckeye Institute, praised the bill for its balanced approach. “House Bill 211 takes another modest but meaningful step,” Certo stated, adding that lawmakers are “balancing the need to punish offenders and the responsibility of ensuring that they become productive members of society.”
Certo referenced studies indicating that incarceration can reduce future employment rates and income for former prisoners. He also noted research showing that stable employment is one of the strongest indicators against recidivism. According to Certo, requiring courts to take into account an offender’s caretaker status could promote stable families and jobs while lowering repeat offenses.
“House Bill 211 does not allow offenders to escape justice,” Certo said. He explained that courts would be required only to consider caretaker status alongside other factors in each case. “By weighing ‘caretaker status along with all other facts in each case,’ House Bill 211’s ‘commonsense approach will continue to promote Ohio’s interest in balancing justice and public safety.'”
The Buckeye Institute is an independent think tank focused on advancing free-market public policy in Ohio and other states. In his testimony, Certo cited previous criminal justice reforms passed by Ohio lawmakers, including programs aimed at improving housing and employment opportunities for ex-offenders.
