• Juvenile is arrested/cited with law violation or referred to JAC with a status offense.
• Juvenile are assessed using standardized, objective assessment instruments (Youth Level of Service and Diagnostic Predictive Scale) to identify risk of re-offense, needs, education-related problems, strengths and protective factors.
• Assessment results drive the justice system’s response to the juvenile.
• JAC recommends a response to the County Attorney which accounts for the juvenile’s individual circumstances.
• County Attorney reviews all JAC recommendations and provides final approval for Diversion Case Plans.
• Emphasis is on matching the juvenile’s needs with treatment, rehabilitation, and supervision, which diminishes the likelihood of re-offense, as well as providing support and tools to enable each youth to become a more responsible and productive citizen.
• Community Agencies and Service Providers develop program capacity which gives the justice system a wide selection of options for juveniles to meet each individual youth’s specific and unique needs.
• Philosophy is to intervene as early, effectively and often as possible to disrupt the juvenile’s progress as a law violator.