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Parents
Helping your child
succeed can be
challenging at times.
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Community
Learn more about the YSB and
how it works with local partners
to improve young lives.
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Diversion Trumps
Detention
Washington County MN continues to be a leader in keeping
non-violent juvenile offenders out of detention facilities without compromising
public safety. Thanks to an
extensive public-private network of diversion options, local youth are
encouraged to learn from a poor decision and develop skills and attitudes to do
better.
For over thirty years, Washington County Community
Corrections and local law enforcement agencies have partnered with a network of
youth service bureaus to provide neighborhood based sanctions and support to
young people and their families following a citation. The Youth Service Bureau works with families from
Stillwater, South Washington and Oakdale-Maplewood school districts.
Local law enforcement often refers youth directly to YSB for
services. Officers can even
consult with YSB staff from their squad car, to ensure that best options are
assigned to the young offender.
The County Attorney also redirects many juvenile cases to diversion in
lieu of a court appearance and juvenile “record.”
Most first offenses are truly “stupid mistakes:” a prank
that went awry, a stab at fitting in or perhaps just a failure to think. Occasionally, an offense is an
indicator of an emerging issue that needs to be addressed. Early intervention and diversion are
designed to both deal with mistakes and detect underlying concerns. Chemical and mental health screenings
can connect appropriate youth to more intensive services.
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