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It Takes a Village: Diversion Resources for Police and Families

Source: Vera Institute of Justice

Resource Type: Documents and Publications

Focus Population: Family Members, People with Juvenile Justice System Involvement, Youth, Youth of Transition Age

Topics: Criminal or Juvenile Justice System, Crisis Response System, Family

Police frequently encounter youth running away from home, violating curfew, skipping school, and chronically disobeying adults—misbehaviors that can often stem from family conflict and that do not require justice involvement. When alternatives are not available, however, these behaviors can lead to arrests or detention. Families dealing with difficult youth behavior often unwittingly send their youth into the justice system by calling the police because they feel they have nowhere to turn for help. This brief explores the creative, collaborative, and community-focused work being done in Nevada, Connecticut, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois, and Oregon to find productive responses to this challenge. The juvenile assessment resource centers, crisis response centers, and crisis intervention teams in these jurisdictions address the needs of youth and connect families to resources and services without the need for juvenile justice involvement.