EVB Probation & Diversion Guidance for FY 2020 Perry Palumbo, Program Development Manager

1. EVB Probation & Diversion Guidance for FY 2020 Perry Palumbo, Program Development Manager May 3, 2019

2. EVB Probation • All courts funding probation staff under the Subsidy Grant will need to incorporate one or more evidence based interventions (EPICS, Carey Guides, or Motivational interviewing) into their probation services by July 1, 2019. • All probation narratives will need to be written on the Behavioral Change narrative (attachment B) form.

3. EVB Probation Core Elements • All youth placed on probation must receive a risk assessment that is used to classify youth as low, moderate, or high risk to reoffend. The OYAS is recommended. • All probation staff funded by the grant (full time and part time) have completed training in one of the EVB interventions (EPICS, Carey Guides, Motivational Interviewing). Staff responsible for quality assurance of the specific intervention also have received the relevant training. • Funded staff use the selected intervention(s) with moderate and high risk youth on their caseloads. Low risk youth who score moderate or high on one or more domains may receive some limited interventions.

4. EVB Probation Core Elements Cont’d • Designed intensity and duration of probation officer involvement with individual youth is based on their risk to reoffend level. • The use of case or probation plans are recommended. • A quality assurance process has been implemented in accordance with the guidelines of the selected intervention. Process may be conducted by supervisory staff or may involve a peer review process.

5. Diversion Core Elements • Youth are not required to attend a formal court hearing with a judge or magistrate. Youth and a parent/guardian attend an informal meeting or conference with program staff. Judge or magistrate may refer additional cases to diversion following a youth’s initial court appearance. • Even if youth are selected for diversion based on their offense and prior court involvement, the use of a risk/needs screen or assessment is recommended to aid in the development of individualized diversion conditions. • An individualized diversion plan is developed for each youth. The youth and parent/guardian has input into this process, and conditions are based on the youth’s risks and needs.

6. Diversion Core Elements Cont’d • Youth are not subject to standard routine meetings or check-ins with the diversion staff. Contacts with the youth should be determined by the diversion staff on a case by case basis. • Cases are closed within a shorter time period than probation cases (i.e. typically around 90 days or less). • Youth successfully completing the program have their complaint sealed and expunged (if there was a formal complaint filed).

7. What about staff doing probation & diversion? • If you fund one or more staff on the grant that handle both diversion and probation cases, then both diversion and probation narratives must be submitted. Staff costs should be pro-rated based on a reasonable estimate of time allocated to each. • If you fund a position that handles both diversion cases and low risk adjudicated youth, both of these functions can be described in one narrative. • If funded staff handle adjudicated youth of all risk levels, those functions can be described in one probation narrative.

8. Questions?