Technical Assistance to Young Adult Diversion Providers

THE CHALLENGE
Young adults (ages 16-24) are involved with the criminal justice system in disproportionate numbers compared to other age groups. A growing body of research shows that this population is closer developmentally to teenagers than to older adults and, therefore, it is more effective to address their criminal behavior with age-appropriate treatments, including diversion programs.¹ Diversion programs redirect individuals, typically youth and first-time offenders, from prosecution and/or incarceration to community-based programming, case management, and supports.²

OUR RESPONSE
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, funded a 3-year technical assistance initiative that is helping 16 state and local partnerships provide their justice-involved young adult population with alternatives to prosecution and/or incarceration, including special education, career and technical education, and other workforce development opportunities.

Technical Assistance Partnerships

TOOLS AND RESOURCES
An online toolkit is being developed and will be housed on the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network at cte.ed.gov.

¹Ishida, Kanako. February 2015. Young Adults in Conflict with the Law: Opportunities for Diversion. Evanston, IL: Juvenile Justice Initiative. Accessed February 7, 2019. http://www.modelsforchange.net/publications/799; and Mulvey, Edward. March 2011. Highlights From Pathways to Desistance: A Longitudinal Study of Serious Adolescent Offenders. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Accessed February 7, 2019. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/230971.pdf; and Schiraldi, Vincent, Bruce Western, and Kendra Bradner. 2015. Community-Based Responses to Justice-Involved Young Adults. New Thinking in Community Corrections Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. Accessed February 7, 2019. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/248900.pdf.
²U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. February 2017. Diversion from Formal Juvenile Court Processing. Accessed February 7, 2019. https://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/litreviews/Diversion_Programs.pdf.