The District Attorney Juvenile Diversion Initiative
Restorative justice
Addressing substance use
Addressing mental health needs
Reducing contact with formal court processing
Intervening early with young people
Addressing sex trafficking or prostitution
- Description
- The Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI) is a county wide early intervention program that prioritizes diversion options for youth instead of filing criminal charges. https://www.sdcda.org/prosecuting/juvenile/Juvenile-Diversion
- How long has the program been operating?
- Less than 1 year
- If applicable, what approach, method, or goal best describes the diversion program?
- Restorative justiceAddressing substance useAddressing mental health needsReducing contact with formal court processingIntervening early with young peopleAddressing sex trafficking or prostitution
- What population is your program intended to serve?
- People under 18 years old
- How are participants identified for the diversion program?
- Line prosecutor who receives case decides about diversion
- Are there any factors specific to your jurisdiction that influence how you structure this diversion program?
- Other
- Does your office have informal or written policies about this diversion program's criteria/eligibility?
- Yes
- What are the programmatic options and/or requirements for the diversion?
- Receive behavioral health assessmentAttend behavioral health interventionAttend programming that is not a behavioral health interventionFollow individualized case management planPay restitutionPay fines or feesWrite an apology letter to victim/communityComplete community serviceComplete a restorative processOther
- How does the diversion program impact your office's resources?
- Programmatic costs are covered by prosecutor’s office
The DA’s Juvenile Diversion Initative program is available for youth between the ages of 12 and 18 who commit misdemeanor and many felony offenses except for those offenses listed in Welfare & Institution Code section 707(b)
The juvenile system provides opportunities for diversion on many offenses through law enforcement or probation prior to coming to the DA.
"Services offered and requirements will be based on the youth's needs. Services are in the community where the youth live and meet the needs of the participants, including the person harmed, and reflect ethnic, gender, cultural linguistic, economic, refugee and immigrant attributes of the communities served."
