Juvenile Diversion Program
Purpose
BASC Juvenile Diversion Programming aims to reduce rates of recidivism and suspension by providing restoratively focused interventions for youths engaging in delinquent behaviors.
Programming
BASC employs one full-time Restorative Justice Specialist to deliver the services outlined here. Youth are referred to programming by the County Attorney’s Office, Social Services, Law Enforcement or area schools, depending on the service.
Alternative Responses to Court
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ARCM (Alternative Response Case Management) - Targeted case management guided by the needs of youth and families referred by the county attorney's office. Programming is guided by specific goals curated in collaboration with youth and family. Within the ARCM programming there is also opportunities for paying restitution through completing required milestones and participation in youth - led community service initiatives..
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Project PREP (Prevention * Responsibility * Education * Positive Impact) - A new structured youth diversion program that combines educational group programming with individual case management with a focus on responsibility, accountability, and personal growth. Youth participate in one of two 9 session curriculum tracks based on their referral, assessment results, individual needs.
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Traffic Law Refresher Course - A one hour group educational session that reviews Minnesota traffic law, Driving as a privilege, and Driver's safety. During the group there is a pre & posttest, a follow along worksheet, and review of referred offense. Parental consent and release of information must be complete prior to attendance
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Sexting Diversion Program - Juveniles are referred to the program by Beltrami County Attorney’s Office, based on the recommendation of a Screening Committee, in lieu of formal charges. Youth attend an educational group session coordinated and led by the BASC Restorative Justice Specialist to learn about negative side effect of their offense. The youth must attend with a parent/guardian.
Restorative Practices Within Schools
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RGC (Restorative Group Conferencing) - A process that brings together all stakeholders after a harmful incident to discuss what happened and to decide what the young person responsible must do to make things right to the best of his/her ability.
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Peace Circles - A process that brings together students engaged in conflict to practice conflict resolution using non-violent communication.
Collaborative Meetings
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Family Resource Navigation - Provides individualized support to help youth and caregivers strengthen the family unit and work toward identified goals. Services may include building communication skills within the home, family safety planning, youth skill development, and parental or caregiver support. Families are also supported in identifying and connecting with community resources that can strengthen stability and provide continued support beyond BASC services. Family Resource Navigation may be especially helpful for youth under age 13 or youth whose behaviors do not result in a formal court involvement. This provides an opportunity for intervention, skill building, and family support when traditional legal responses may not be available or appropriate.
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Family Group Decision Making - At a separate nonbiased location families and social services providers are brought together in a structured meeting focused on family voice, strengths, concerns, and planning. Families are supported in participating meaningfully in decisions, identifying their own supports, and developing a plan that addresses the needs and safety of the youth.
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Restorative Group Conferencing - Structured opportunities to address harm through accountability, communication, and restoration. Youth, families, impacted individuals, and other appropriate supports participate in a collaborative meeting focused on understanding impact, taking responsibility, repairing harm when possible, and identifying meaningful steps forward. Restorative Group Conferencing also offers approaches such as surrogate victim participation when direct participation is not appropriate or available.
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Dually Involved Youth Collaborative Conferencing - When a youth is involved in both the child welfare and juvenile delinquency systems (dually involved), they are particularly vulnerable and their family is likely overwhelmed. Collaborative Conferencing is a court-ordered process that brings together the youth, family, case managers, probation agent, ICWA workers, and any other identified parties to discuss and assess the current risks, needs, and strengths of the youth and family. The meeting culminates with an agreement crafted and signed by all parties outlining possible conditions of probation and assigning a primary case manager for ease of communication.
Impact
The social return of this programming for youth, families, and the community are reduced truancy, improved school performance, reduced near-term court costs, reduced costs of adult crime, reduced needs to social services, and improved health outcomes. Recidivism, or rate of re-offending, for youth who participate in the programming is 5% for six months after completion of programming and 7% after 12 months.
Partners
BASC provides these services in collaboration with:
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Beltrami County Attorney’s Office
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MN Department of Corrections -- Bemidji Office
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Beltrami County Health and Human Services
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Red Lake Family and Children’s Services
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Leech Lake ICWA
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Schools in Beltrami County
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Local service providers
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Local law enforcement
This program is currently funded by:
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Restorative Practices Initiative Grant funded by MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families
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Dual Status Youth Grant funded my MN Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Program
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Beltrami County