Canton offers diversion program for youth crimes

Sometimes the key to crime prevention is intervention rather than imprisonment.
A new program in Canton Township in conjunction with Growth Works and the office of the Wayne County Prosecutor offers an alternative intervention system for juvenile offenders. The program works to improve patterns of juvenile behavior through alternatives outside the criminal justice system, while maintaining the community standards and expectations of the involved victims or complaining parties.
The Canton Police Department implemented the one-year pilot program last October, and already has 27 young offenders participating in the Juvenile Diversion Program. The Canton Juvenile Diversion Program was developed around the State of Michigan Act 13 of 1988. Juveniles who commit one of a specified list of misdemeanor offenses can be referred to the program. Offenses such as possession of marijuana, alcohol, tobacco or vape materials; simple assault, disorderly conduct, communicating threats, trespassing, undisciplined juveniles who are habitual runaways or have truancy or curfew violations, larceny or damage to property offenses can be sent into the program as an alternative to more severe punishments. All juvenile offenders in Canton are now considered for the diversion program, which refers them to Growth Works, a counseling service,  where staff members establish a customized 12-week course of action for the offender.

Each program is designed for the individual and is based on the offense, history of the juvenile, needs of the minor. The goal, officials said, is to utilize counseling and criteria to curb and correct the minor's behavior without attaching legal ramifications. Parent/guardian participation is also a requirement of the program, allowing them to participate in the opportunity for the child to grow and learn from the experience.
“When juveniles engage in risky behaviors and make bad decisions, this Juvenile Diversion Program will provide a restorative justice model with rigorous oversight, while reducing dependence on the traditional juvenile justice process for minor offenses,” said Chad Baugh, deputy director of the Canton Police Department.
Diversion records for participants who successfully complete the program are sealed and can only be opened by order of the court. Records of juveniles enrolled in the diversion program are destroyed within 28 days of the minor becoming 17 years of age, according to the state law governing the program.
Diversion participants who do not successfully complete the requirements established with Growth Works will have their misdemeanor case re-opened by the police department, and any appropriate course of court action will follow which may include the issuance of a citation or petition to court.
Included in the development of the program was an Oversight and Review Panel that will focus on ensuring the program conforms to community standards, maintains equality of opportunity for juveniles, and policy compliance. The review panel will meet every six months and will provide feedback and recommendations at the one-year mark.
“I'm eager to see how this innovative pilot program will benefit the community, and the potential positive-impact it may have on the juvenile participants,” said Canton Township Director of Public Safety Joshua Meier.
All juvenile offenders are originally considered for the program unless the juvenile has a prior arrest history, the offense is a felony, the offender lives outside of Wayne County, the victim makes a request for restitution to be paid, the victim makes a request for the offender to be criminally prosecuted or the parent/guardian of the offender refuses to allow the minor child to participate in the program,
On Monday morning, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced a similar diversion program for youth offenders through her office that will implemented county-wide.