What is the purpose of a juvenile diversion program?
A juvenile diversion program is an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. It is designed to divert young people away from a sentence in the juvenile justice system, where they may be exposed to more dangerous environments and lack access to the support they need to become productive members of society. In Washington, juvenile diversion programs are aimed at holding young people accountable while also providing them with the opportunity to receive help such as drug or alcohol treatment, job preparation, or mentoring. This is achieved by allowing young people to enter into an agreement with the prosecutor as an alternative to formal prosecution. The agreement usually involved the young person completing certain tasks in order to have the charge(s) dismissed. In Washington, juvenile diversion programs are designed to help youths develop skills and strategies for problem solving, anger management, and other skills needed to become successful adults. These programs provide youths with a more positive alternative to incarceration, leading to better outcomes in the long run. The purpose of juvenile diversion programs in Washington is to provide young people with the resources they need to successfully take responsibility for their actions, while also helping to reduce the recidivism rate of future offenders. By providing a better option to prison, the programs help ensure that young people have the opportunity to develop into productive, law abiding members of society.
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