In January 1991, the Juvenile Restitution Program (JRP) was established. It provides an alternative disposition for youth committing personal and property crimes where restitution was deemed appropriate. There are over 300 community service sites in Franklin County and surrounding areas. The Program uses local businesses to provide an opportunity for youth to "pay back" restitution. The goal of the Juvenile Restitution Program is to offer the juvenile an option to give back to the community while avoiding being sent to a detention facility. Typically, Restitution and Community Service can have 350 youth actively participating in either program.

During 1998 over 730 youth were referred to Restitution and Community Service. Over $44,000 dollars were paid to victims during 1998 through the Restitution Program. An additional $53,000 was paid to victims from juveniles working in the Community Service component of the Restitution Program.

Restitution plans to expand services in 1999 through a collaborative effort between the City of Columbus and the Juvenile Court with a work-site program funded in part by a Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant successfully obtained by the Juvenile Court.

Juvenile Restitution
Administration Web Page