Diversion 2000

Diversion 2000, our newest program, is a 24 hours a day monitoring and mentoring program for juvenile offenders. Our adult mentors are on call 24 hours a day to pick up juveniles from Shuman Center within two hours of their arrival.

The purpose of the Diversion program is to aid the youth in:

1) protecting the community

2) staying in school

3) improving his/her school performance

4) improving his/her behavior

5) keeping out of trouble

6) maintaining curfew and/or family responsibility, and

7) participating in ongoing community/neighborhood activities.

Juvenile offenders are placed in the Diversion program for a minimum of 21 days, but the youth may be mandated by Juvenile Court to remain in the program for a longer period of time.

The adult mentor conduct home visits, daily phone contacts, daily monitoring of school attendance, daily curfew checks, and coordinate after-school academic support for each youth in his/her care. The mentor will also schedule cultural activities, recreational activities, and other incentives to motivate the youth to follow expected and agreed-upon behaviors.

As of February 28, 2004, Diversion has recoded over 22,300 hours of direct service to clients. The average length of stay for a client in the Diversion program is currently 90.6 days. Clients are continually referred to the program if their hearings are deferred, a continuance is granted, or there appears to be just cause per the judge’s discretion. The overall compliance rate for curfew calls is 80 percent, and school attendance is at 91 percent. As the program continues, each adult mentor collects valuable information from parents, school personnel and community agency representatives. The qualitative data will supply information regarding the observed behavior change in the clients, as well as, grade report changes over the course of the clients’ involvement in the program. Diversion 2000 clients are invited to participate in after-school academic homework and tutorial services, as well as, cultural and recreational activities sponsored by our Mentoring Partnerships and P.A.S.S. Programs.

Diversion 2000 is fully funded by the Allegheny County Juvenile Courts.

 Mentoring Partnerships P.A.S.S. Program Diversion 2000