Time for teens to wake up

Last week's trial in Sandusky County Juvenile Court was a lesson for the community.

Since four 14-year-old males were arrested on charges of kidnapping and rape/complicity to rape of a local 14-year-old girl, the newspaper has fielded numerous calls from people who believed naming juveniles in our articles was not legal.

Not only is it legal to name juveniles in news articles, it is becoming clear that protecting the identities of serious juvenile offenders may not in the best interest of any community. Plus we also believe it is the duty of law enforcement to name such offenders in their public reports.

When juveniles are charged with felony-type offenses, it seems clear that juvenile court hearings should be public, and we appreciate that Judge Brad Culbert recently agreed with that view.

We live in a very good community so juvenile law and criminal issues have not been a prevalent discussion here in the past. But local teens should realize that in Ohio, 14-year-olds who commit first-degree felony crimes can be tried as adults. At minimum, the press has every right to report your name just like any adult who violates the law.