Lawmakers eye expanding juvenile diversion to some violent offenses
Advocates say racial disparities start at criminal justice system’s front door
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IN JANUARY, nearly four years after the idea was first conceived, the state launched its first state-run, state-funded juvenile diversion programs. The idea was to keep teenagers out of detention and avoid saddling them with a juvenile court record for minor offenses, like shoplifting or using illicit drugs. Now, lawmakers are considering expanding the diversion(...)