We recognize the unique circumstances of youth who commit crimes and focus on providing them with support resources that change their behavior.
Launching in 2022, this modern juvenile diversion program utilizes evidence-based intervention strategies that keep youth from entering the criminal justice system while ensuring accountability and repairing harm.
A collaboration with multiple partner agencies, this program supports 10-to-13-year-old youth as they learn how criminal justice programming can affect them, how to understand their own choices and how they can make more sound choices moving forward. Parents and guardians are also integrated into the Youngers support system and programming by aiding in the intervention process and making positive changes within the household in support of their child’s path.
Encourage Path programming focuses on swift and targeted intervention. Through the use of Restorative Conversation Principles, youth hold themselves accountable and identify the harm caused by their actions. They then work with a program specialist to establish an agreement on how to repair the harm they’ve caused. Youth successfully complete their programming when they have fulfilled the agreement.
A strength-based intervention that targets individual areas of risk and need, the Engage Path program addresses the underlying thought processes and behaviors that have led them to encounter the justice system. Participants establish long and short-term goals and meet regularly with a program specialist to implement and review actions steps in place to achieve the youth’s goals. Youth successfully complete their programming by reaching the goals they’ve set in partnership with the specialist.
Eligibility into the Pathways program (Juvenile Diversion) is established through a combination of legal criteria and an assessment of risk and need. When a case is submitted to the District Attorney’s Office, the juvenile will participate in an initial screen (ARNA) conducted by the Juvenile Assessment Center. The results of the ARNA screen will be used in conjunction with an individualized case assessment to determine if a juvenile meets criteria for the Pathways program.
The following factors are utilized in the decision as to whether a juvenile is eligible for diversion:
The decision as to whether a juvenile is eligible for diversion is done on a case by case basis and the District Attorney’s Office utilizes its discretion to make exceptions to the eligibility criteria as appropriate.
The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office formed Sexting Solutions to assist both teens and their parents in understanding the dynamics surrounding risky virtual behavior. In partnership with a community-based therapist, the program’s curriculum was designed to provide – in conjunction with parents – insight, guidance and intervention to youth by addressing concepts such as:
