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Justice Index · Advocacy Lab · Field Guide

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Diversion

Diversion steers eligible youth away from deeper court processing and into time-limited supports. The aim is quick stabilization, school connection, and fewer future complaints—without the collateral effects of formal adjudication.

What We Track

  • Eligibility & Screening: tool-guided risk/needs, offense criteria, overrides.
  • Timeliness: referral within 7–10 days of intake; first contact ≤72 hours preferred.
  • Program Models: community diversion, credible-messenger mentoring, restorative practices, brief skills curricula.
  • Dosage & Engagement: typical 6–12 weeks; session attendance; caregiver participation where applicable.
  • Outcomes: initiation, completion, improvement (attendance/behavior), and recurrence at 30/90/180/365 days.
  • Equity: access and outcomes by race/ethnicity, disability, and rural vs. urban context.

Decision Flow (Typical)

  1. Intake & Screen: offense, prior history, and risk/needs assessment.
  2. Eligibility Decision: match to diversion criteria; document any overrides.
  3. Referral & Engagement: handoff to provider; first contact within 72 hours.
  4. Completion: program milestones; restoration agreements when used.
  5. Follow-Up: short checks at 30/90/180/365 days when feasible.

Program Models

  • Community Diversion: brief skills + case management with school coordination.
  • Credible-Messenger Mentoring: relationship-based engagement and accountability.
  • Restorative Practices: conferences/agreements that repair harm and set commitments.
  • Service Linkages: MH/SUD screenings trigger treatment referrals (not detention).

Measurement & Methods

We track initiation (enrolled), completion (finished), and improvement (attendance/behavior) as primary outcomes. Recurrence is checked at 30/90/180/365 days. Small-n cells are pooled across 2–3 years and flagged. When definitions or systems change, we mark breaks in series to keep trends comparable.

Related

Transparency note: Diversion outcomes can be selection-sensitive; we annotate eligibility rules and any overrides, and we disaggregate results for equity checks.