COLUMBUS, Ohio — Either you or someone you know has probably had a car stolen in the last couple of years.
Between 2019 and 2022, there was an 83% increase in case filings for stolen cars in Franklin County juvenile court.
Judges have now started a program geared at preventing kids from becoming repeat offenders.
“It really is to inform the most impressionable of the kids as to what it looks like and what has happened here. It isn't just a joy ride. It has an impact on many lives,” said Franklin County Juvenile Court Judge George Leach.
Leach sees first-hand the number of kids who have been arrested for stealing cars.
“You know the numbers as well as I do, it's a big problem for the community. It's gone up. It's still a problem today. The crimes have evolved. More times than not, there are weapons involved,” Leach said.
According to the juvenile court, 34% of the juveniles have been charged in more than one case. For the past year, Leach has developed a program called the Juvenile Auto Theft Diversion program. It's geared toward the younger kids who may be a passenger in a stolen car and haven't been arrested before, in hopes of preventing them from becoming a repeat offender.
“Absolutely that is the goal. That is priority number one to get these kids, generally first-time offenders, to get them in and help them see and relate to the charges they are facing and what has happened with the case they are involved with,” Leach explained.
The pilot program, which is now accepting first-time offenders, will be small at first with only a handful of kids. Leach has partnered with groups like We the Change and We are Linden.
“Our focus will be on the community engagement side of things, getting the kids to help change their mindsets and just be that voice of reason to help deter them from getting into those cars and driving themselves to an early grave,” said Ralph Carter, founder of We are Linden.
Carter said he's excited to be part of the program he hopes will be a solution.
“It's a different approach. It's focuses on the arts,” Carter said.
Kids will attend sessions after school Monday through Thursday and work with mentors, make art projects and hear from speakers. If the kids successfully complete the program, the Franklin County prosecutor’s office will pay their victim $500 in restitution and the charges will be dropped.
“I want to reduce it significantly, especially the thefts that are related to just showing off and social media buzz. We have got to take care of that problem,” Leach said.