The Juvenile Diversion Program was created to provide an alternative to court and citations for first time juvenile offenders who have committed non-violent misdemeanor crimes. SOS has partnered with the Sonoma County Sheriff, Windsor Police, and Healdsburg Police to run two diversion programs in Windsor and Healdsburg.
In the town of Windsor the SOS Juvenile Diversion program began over 20 years ago. In partnership with Windsor High School, counselors meet with students on campus and have provided hundreds of hours of diversion counseling to youth in the community each year. In Healdsburg, the program began in August 2017 and has seen successful completion of the program by multiple “graduates” thanks to a collaborative effort between the Healdsburg Police Department and Healdsburg High School.
Components of the Juvenile Diversion Program
Youth cited for a misdemeanor crime, may be referred by law enforcement to the diversion program. Youth participating in the program, will attend counseling, volunteer for 10 hours of community service and engage in restitution related to the offense committed.
Volunteer opportunities in the community that relate to the youth’s interests or which offer a new experience.
Some youth have continued volunteering after they complete the program or have found paid employment as a result of their volunteer work.
Restitution – Often a letter of apology written to a person who was impacted by the youth’s actions. In most cases they choose a parent or school official, such as a teacher or principal, although the youth often write their letter to the citing officer.
Participants in SOS’s diversion programs are given a survey in their last session. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from program participants regarding the skills they learned and the support they felt from working with a counselor.
Low rates of repeat offenders suggests that participating in the program provides an opportunity to youth to reflect and evaluate their behavior, and encouraged an increase in socially adaptive behavior after the program ended.
Overall, the program has led to lower recidivism rates, provides resources to the school and local law enforcement officers, increases collaboration between mental health providers, schools, and law enforcement, and provides the continuum of care that is essential in supporting the youth who need it most in our community.
Juvenile Diversion
Juvenile Diversion Program
The Juvenile Diversion Program was created to provide an alternative to court and citations for first time juvenile offenders who have committed non-violent misdemeanor crimes. SOS has partnered with the Sonoma County Sheriff, Windsor Police, and Healdsburg Police to run two diversion programs in Windsor and Healdsburg.
In the town of Windsor the SOS Juvenile Diversion program began over 20 years ago. In partnership with Windsor High School, counselors meet with students on campus and have provided hundreds of hours of diversion counseling to youth in the community each year. In Healdsburg, the program began in August 2017 and has seen successful completion of the program by multiple “graduates” thanks to a collaborative effort between the Healdsburg Police Department and Healdsburg High School.
Components of the Juvenile Diversion Program
Youth cited for a misdemeanor crime, may be referred by law enforcement to the diversion program. Youth participating in the program, will attend counseling, volunteer for 10 hours of community service and engage in restitution related to the offense committed.
Volunteer opportunities in the community that relate to the youth’s interests or which offer a new experience.
Some youth have continued volunteering after they complete the program or have found paid employment as a result of their volunteer work.
Restitution – Often a letter of apology written to a person who was impacted by the youth’s actions. In most cases they choose a parent or school official, such as a teacher or principal, although the youth often write their letter to the citing officer.
Participants in SOS’s diversion programs are given a survey in their last session. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from program participants regarding the skills they learned and the support they felt from working with a counselor.
Low rates of repeat offenders suggests that participating in the program provides an opportunity to youth to reflect and evaluate their behavior, and encouraged an increase in socially adaptive behavior after the program ended.
Overall, the program has led to lower recidivism rates, provides resources to the school and local law enforcement officers, increases collaboration between mental health providers, schools, and law enforcement, and provides the continuum of care that is essential in supporting the youth who need it most in our community.