The state agency responsible for juvenile corrections says it will close a corrections facility and a residential treatment center to save $24 million.
Tom Stickrath, director of the Department of Youth Services, said Thursday the state's economic crunch and a decrease in the youth offender population were two factors in the decision.
The Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility and Freedom Center in Delaware County will be closed by July. The Marion facility has 302 staff, and 176 youths. The youth will be transferred to the agency's five other facilities.
Freedom Center, a residential treatment facility for girls, has 18 youth and 29 staffers. The center's girls will be moved to Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility.
