Our presentation explains the San Diego County District Attorney’s Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI) administered by the National Conflict Resolution Center in partnership with community providers. We will discuss a general program overview, community outreach and strategic partnerships, and lessons learned. DA Juvenile Diversion Initiative is a county-wide diversion program offered to eligible youth as an alternative to the DA’s office filing charges in the Juvenile Court. Panelists will describe the referral, intake, and assessment process and how the youth’s needs are identified. NCRC will explain the case plan development process and successful ways to build rapport and engage youth in JDI. A key component of the youth’s JDI case plan is a restorative meeting where the person harmed (if applicable) will have the opportunity to meet with the responsible youth, discuss the harm done, and solutions to repair the harm. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, JDI provides direct services to youth embedded within their communities.

Learning Objective(s)

1. Best practices Learned in Year 1 
2. How to form Strategic Partnerships
3. Community dialogue around Restorative Justice