Franklin County is launching a one-year pilot program to help juveniles accused of certain low-level felony offenses avoid incarceration and a criminal record.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Lead Juvenile Judge Lasheyl Stroud and Prosecutor Shayla Favor said only a small percentage of cases are eligible for the program, which expands the court’s existing juvenile diversion programs for misdemeanor crimes.
Favor said the court’s current juvenile diversion programs have been successful at reducing recidivism, and that the court rarely sees juveniles who complete a diversion program ever again.
Evidence shows that often, juveniles who see the impact of their crimes firsthand and take accountability are less likely to reoffend, Favor said. The cases also move faster than traditional juvenile court proceedings and reduce strain on the court docket.
“We are not being soft on crime, we are getting smart about justice,” Favor said.
How the juvenile felony diversion program works
Stroud said the program is an extension of the court’s Community Restorative Circles program. In that, a group including the juvenile offender, their parents or guardians, the victim, and volunteer community members discuss the crime and the needs of the youth, the victim and the community.
Victims must also agree to the diversion program.
Together, the circle agrees on a 90-day plan of action. It can include community service, written work such as an apology letter or a research paper, and financial restitution.
Restitution is money paid to a crime victim to offset the impact of the crime. The court determines the amount required. In the felony diversion program, Stroud said juvenile offenders must pay any restitution up front.
Juvenile offenders who complete the program will see their cases dismissed and can avoid a criminal record.
If the juvenile offenders do not complete the program, they will return to the traditional court process.
Funding for the felony diversion program will come from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas’ Youth Education and Intervention Services budget, prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Nya Hairston said.
Who will be eligible for the new felony diversion program?
Eligible offenses for the program include theft, receiving stolen property, breaking and entering, vandalism and drug possession. In 2024, 315 cases would have been eligible for the program if it had been operating, according to data from the prosecutor’s office.
The juvenile branch of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas handled over 4,000 juvenile delinquency cases that year, according to an annual report.
Repeat and dangerous offenders, and anyone accused of committing a violent offense or weapon offense, will not be eligible to participate.
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County launches program to help teens keep criminal records clean
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
