Goal #1: Make probation/community supervision smaller by safely diverting more young people from formal system and court involvement, to community-based supports, services, and opportunities, with a particular focus on increasing diversion away from MDOC supervision.

Goal #2: Make probation/community supervision better by ensuring it is strength-based, time-limited, rooted in relationship-building and community partnership, and focused on positive youth development, meaningful accountability, and healing. 

Related resources:

• Video explaining Community-Led Youth Diversion, Annie E Casey Foundation (2023)

• Diversion: The Next Frontier in Reforming Youth Justice, a compilation of research and other resources from the Sentencing Project

• Guides to Community Asset-Mapping (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2012) and (Center for Justice Innovation, 2020) - include materials and resources to assist with the “how-to” of finding and mapping the assets and constructive activities within communities to establish connections for youth that ensure equitable access.

Related resources:

• AECF Family-Engaged Case Planning Guide (2022) includes materials such as sample case plans and a checklist to support probation agencies in successfully engaging and partnering with families.

• Opportunity-Based Probation Manual from Pierce County (Tacoma), Washington (2022) - includes guiding principles, process details, and incentive and scoring grid examples.

• Evaluation of Opportunity-Based Probation (2018)