Diverting Children, Adolescents and Young Adults from Criminal Justice System Involvement

This Massachusetts Probation Service grant supports city, town, and community-based diversion efforts that prevent children, adolescents, and young adults from formally entering the juvenile or criminal justice system before arrest or arraignment. It funds pilot or expanded multidisciplinary programs that provide direct diversionary services to identifiable individuals through prevention, intervention, or alternative case processing. Supported activities include coordinated youth and family services such as mental health connections, mentoring and youth development, community engagement, restorative justice and mediation, school safety efforts, family home visits, and help for families and schools navigating the legal system. Eligible applicants are Massachusetts cities and towns and community-based providers, with community-based lead applicants required to partner with a local government unit that serves as fiscal agent through a memorandum of understanding. The solicitation anticipates several awards and allows funds for new or existing programs, but caps administrative costs at 5 percent of the grant value. Awards are made on a rolling basis until available funds are exhausted, and projects may operate for up to one year from contract signing.