At the meeting, local community groups and nonprofit organizations asked the Commission to investigate the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court’s assigned-counsel system. On the day of publication, our reporting was highlighted by advocates for strong youth defense at the regular meeting of the Ohio Public Defender’s Commission. Advocates worry that these lop-sided appointments contribute to the high number of mostly Black children from the county ending up in adult prisons - a subject The Marshall Project - Cleveland has thoroughly reported on in the past. In March 2024, The Marshall Project - Cleveland looked at how judges in Cuyahoga County steer juvenile cases to select private attorneys, with some getting hundreds of cases a year, while others get none. Local advocates called for an investigation into how the Cuyahoga County courts assign counsel to children after we reported that most cases went to a handful of private attorneys. Please consider donating to The Marshall Project. None of this impact would be possible without supporters like you. Since our founding in 2014, The Marshall Project’s reporting has spurred new legislation, prompted official probes, improved conditions in specific prisons and jails, gotten people out of detention, and been cited by everyone from Supreme Court justices to jailhouse lawyers.

Each has a critical role to play in improving the system.

We track the impact of our journalism on three important groups: policymakers advocates and criminal justice experts and other media.

The Marshall Project’s work frequently leads to real and demonstrable change. We focus on criminal justice as an arena where power is often abused our goal is to expose injustice. Our reporters examine all sides of an issue and follow the facts where they lead. We don’t approach any issue with an outcome in mind. The Marshall Project is a journalism outlet, not an advocacy organization.

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