Ohio blocking youth prisons investigator

COLUMBUS (AP) — A lawyer representing juvenile offenders says the state is hindering the work of court-ordered investigators of Ohio’s juvenile prisons.

Atty. Al Gerhardstein says the Department of Youth Services is punishing a monitoring team because of a new report critical of the youth prisons.

Gerhardstein filed a complaint in federal court today asking that the state lift restrictions on the monitoring team and investigator Steve Martin.

The complaint says Youth Services is making it more difficult for Martin to request data and requiring him to be shadowed by prison officials when he visits.

The Sept. 16 report said Ohio mishandled the closing of its youth detention facility in Marion earlier this year, among other criticisms.