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.
Research shows that roughly 70% of youth who commit a first
offense will not offend again.
With diversion, 85% of first offenders will not re-offend. An effective initial diversion program
cuts in half the number of youth who will potentially have a subsequent
offense.
If additional offenses occur, the county uses a mix of early
intervention and other community programs to keep children at home and
connected to their school and community.
At each step, the emphasis is on developing needed skills and attitudes
to be successful, while also reducing the risk of subsequent offenses.
Community based options for youth work! Washington County produces better
outcomes at half the cost, when compared to other counties in the metropolitan
area. And, these savings add up
over time.
The average cost, in the metropolitan area, to detain a
juvenile is $311 per day.
Diversion costs just $215 per youth, for services spanning three
months. So, without even
considering the long term costs, exceeding $1.5 million, of providing life long
services to a chronic offender, diversion immediately saves taxpayer dollars
while reaping benefits to the community.
Providing early intervention services through an independent
nonprofit provides added benefits for families. The YSB is able to leverage multiple resources to keep
services local, available and accessible to all. Thanks to generous individual and corporate donors, YSB can
provide alternative ways for youth to earn program fees and give back to their
community.
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