August 6, 2024

Los Angeles, CA – On Monday, August 5, the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development (DYD) highlighted a landmark evaluation of the County’s Youth Diversion and Development Program during a roundtable discussion at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration co-hosted by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath.

The County’s Youth Diversion program is an evidence-informed model that provides community-based youth development services and restorative justice as alternatives to arrest, citation, and court involvement for eligible youth.

DYD’s Director David J. Carroll described the program’s achievements, highlighting the impact of enrolling in the program on improving youth and family wellbeing, significantly reducing recidivism compared to arrest or court involvement, and generating cost savings of $40,000 per youth. Mr. Carroll also emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to the program for youth of color. Black young people in particular face unjust barriers to diversion, though they achieve equal or higher success rates when enrolled.

“95% of young people who enroll in the County’s Youth Diversion and Development program are not re-offending,” said Mr. Carroll. “Even more importantly, these young people and their families are developing strengths that they can use for the rest of their lives. If we give young people what they need on the front end, we avoid all kinds of challenges and see much more success in the long term.”

Chair Horvath echoed the program’s success, emphasizing its positive impact on youth, families, and communities. Chair Horvath urged continued collaboration to expand access to the program to youth across the County.

“Youth diversion from the justice system is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do,” said Chair Horvath. “As Los Angeles County accelerates our commitment to Youth Justice Reimagined, supporting our Department of Youth Development, and bringing community partners together to engage in discussions like today’s, is critical. Our young people deserve our full attention and investment through diversion, which will make all of our communities safer and healthier.”

Sheriff Robert G. Luna expressed his support for the program and ongoing collaboration between the Sheriff’s Department and DYD, highlighting the program’s impact on recidivism and public safety.

Justice Transformation Policy Coordinator with the Urban Peace Institute, Olivia Shields, uplifted the benefit of applying an approach to accountability that centers wellbeing and echoed the need to reduce barriers to referral and enrollment for youth of color.

Program Alumni and Case Manager with Soledad Enrichment Action, Jaazaniah Augustus, spoke about the way the program changed his life and the importance of including youth voices in in shaping the program’s future.

The Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development remains committed to fostering equitable and effective alternatives to arrest for youth and looks forward to future research and collaboration to expand and improve the program.

For more information about the Youth Diversion and Development Program and its evaluation, please visit www.dyd.lacounty.gov/diversion.

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