Diversion Programs
Pre-adjudication diversion is an alternative available to the probation department as a means to hold low-risk youth accountable without formal Court processing. In some circumstances, youth at imminent risk of being charged as a delinquent can enter a diversion program and receive services geared toward mentoring, education and interventions.
Diversion Options
Diversion alternatives can include counseling and/or referrals for dependency, informal supervision, and community treatment programs. Diversion programs facilitated by Juvenile Probation are the First Offender Program, Youth Aid Panel, Youth Court, Technology and Social Media Awareness Class, and Theft Prevention.
Below is a list of the diversion programs provided by the Franklin County Juvenile Probation department.
First Offender Program
This program is designed to help improve the decision-making skills of first-time juvenile offenders charged with minor offenses. The program consists of one three-hour class. The class consists of understanding the impact of crime in the community, learning problem- solving skills, and learning about what may happen to them in the future if they continue to commit crimes. The participants attend classes conducted by juvenile probation officers. Juveniles can be referred to this program by juvenile probation officers, Children and Youth workers, police officers, judges, district judges, and parents. Juveniles referred to this program do not have to be under probation supervision.
Youth Aid Panel
The Youth Aid Panel is a diversionary program designed for first-time juvenile offenders. The program aims to increase community awareness of juvenile crime while also involving the community in being responsible for their youth.
The Youth Aid Panel is not a court of law and does not determine guilt or innocence. The youth and his or her parents must agree to guilt in order to be a part of the proceedings. Due process protection is a high priority. At any time, a juvenile and his or her parents may choose to go to District or Juvenile Court instead of the Youth Aid Panel.
The juvenile and his or her parents come before a panel of trained volunteers from the community. The panel, the juvenile and his or her parents work together to build a contract that repairs the damage done to the victim and meets the treatment needs of the juvenile. Each contract is tailored to the offense and the juvenile.
Youth Court
Youth Court is a diversionary program for first-time juvenile offenders who commit minor offenses on school property. Youth Court is currently held at both Chambersburg Area Senior High School and Waynesboro Area High School. Juveniles are required to take
accountability for their actions in front of a trained jury of their peers. The juvenile’s restorative consequences are then determined by the jury based on the nature and severity of the offense.
Technology and Social Media Awareness Class
The Juvenile Probation Technology and Social Awareness Class targets youth who have been charged with offenses related to sexting and/or cyberbullying. The class is set up into two, two-hour sessions. This class is designed to be very interactive with both classroom
discussions and workbook exercises.
The first session discusses the positives and negatives regarding texting and sexting, peer pressure, negative and positive relationships and self-esteem and how all of those things can lead to a person participating in sexting or other negative behaviors. There is time during the very beginning of class that allows the students to write down what questions they have regarding sexting. Many times those questions also lead into the discussions regarding the consequences of sexting.
The second session includes discussing positive and negative types of communication, the dangers of cyberbullying, and sexting in social media, not just on a cell phone, as well as harassment and ways to stand up to those who may be bullying those into sexting. This session includes the discussion of different young people who have committed suicide after being victims of cyberbullying and sexting in the social media.
Theft Prevention Class
The Theft Prevention Class is a one day, 1.5-hour class facilitated by juvenile probation officers. The class focuses on victim awareness, identifying and correcting thinking errors, and developing skills to increase impulse control. The class uses materials from Motivational Interviewing and the Prepare Curriculum to encourage personal responsibility and thoughtful decision making.