HISTORY OF YADC
The Young Adult Diversion Court (YADC) program was created by 8th District Court Judge Hon. Anne E. Blatchford. As she was seeing increasing numbers of young adults entering the criminal justice system, receiving diversions for their charges, but not successfully obtaining their diversion (resulting in a criminal record), she began developing a more comprehensive approach to working with these individuals that did not exist in Kalamazoo County.
Judge Blatchford decided that a specialty court framework, similar to that of existing Sobriety Courts and Drug Courts, might provide the structure and support these individuals needed. After meeting with several organizations and groups in Kalamazoo whose missions encapsulated that of her vision for Young Adult Diversion Court, Judge Blatchford found that she would have the support from the community and internally, within other departments of Kalamazoo County Government.
To read more about Judge Blatchford, click here.
WHAT IS YADC?
YADC is a 6-8 month* program that works with individuals on probation between the ages of 17 and 20 who have been sentenced for a criminal charge under a diversion statute. Types of charges that receive diversions tend to be Possession of Marijuana, Minor In Possession of Alcohol, Retail Fraud, and Malicious Destruction of Property. If a diversion is granted, this means that upon successful completion of the probationary period, the initial charge will be dismissed and made non-public on the criminal record.
When a 17-20-year-old probationer is struggling to complete the requirements of probation, their Probation Officer (or the sentencing judge) can refer them to YADC, where they are connected to more support and given more intensive case management. Each participant receives support from their Probation Officer, Program Assistant, YADC Judge, Speak It Forward staff, Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services staff, and from the County's Health & Community Services department. Individualized goal setting and action plans are constructed with YADC staff, and weekly programming & biweekly court review sessions keep the group connected and motivated.
During our weekly programming sessions, the Community Action Agency's Community Education Coordinator facilitates discussion and activities with participants. Each week, a different theme is the focus, and YADC participants can explore and debate these ideas in a safe setting while using creative writing and spoken word techniques to express themselves and reflect on their thoughts.
All graduates of YADC are discharged from probation and have their charge dismissed and as a way to inspire and motivate current program participants, each graduate reads a piece that they wrote that describes their time in the Program and what they gained from it.
*The Program is designed to engage participants for 6-8 months, but depending on each individual's success with probation and Program requirements, this time may be extended for up to 24 months.
SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS
Our mission is to work alongside young adult offenders to create a network of support that not only fosters successful attainment of their diversion, but valuable skills to use as they move forward in life. Each individual must also, as a requirement of the program, complete a service-learning project in an area that is meaningful to them. Participants who are beginning their projects at the same time are encouraged to collaborate and implement a project together. By speaking with local non-profit organizations and learning about what its needs are, YADC participants not only create a project that aims to help fulfill its mission, but also allows them to gain valuable communication and employment skills themselves. By working with participants to coordinate and complete these projects, YADC staff hope that participants will leave the program with a heightened sense of responsibility to self and community, and that they will feel more connected to issues that affect each of us.
YADC AND THE KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY
We are always looking to work with groups and leaders in our community who have an interest in raising the bar as to what Kalamazoo can do! If you have experience with the criminal justice system and would like to speak about your experience, you can volunteer to be a guest speaker at our Program. Are you interested in working as a mentor or tutor for any of our participants who are in school? We want to meet you! Also, if you have any kind of individual or group service project that you need more hands to help finish, let us know by clicking the button below or visiting our Contact Us page.
The Young Adult Diversion Court (YADC) program was created by 8th District Court Judge Hon. Anne E. Blatchford. As she was seeing increasing numbers of young adults entering the criminal justice system, receiving diversions for their charges, but not successfully obtaining their diversion (resulting in a criminal record), she began developing a more comprehensive approach to working with these individuals that did not exist in Kalamazoo County.
Judge Blatchford decided that a specialty court framework, similar to that of existing Sobriety Courts and Drug Courts, might provide the structure and support these individuals needed. After meeting with several organizations and groups in Kalamazoo whose missions encapsulated that of her vision for Young Adult Diversion Court, Judge Blatchford found that she would have the support from the community and internally, within other departments of Kalamazoo County Government.
To read more about Judge Blatchford, click here.
WHAT IS YADC?
YADC is a 6-8 month* program that works with individuals on probation between the ages of 17 and 20 who have been sentenced for a criminal charge under a diversion statute. Types of charges that receive diversions tend to be Possession of Marijuana, Minor In Possession of Alcohol, Retail Fraud, and Malicious Destruction of Property. If a diversion is granted, this means that upon successful completion of the probationary period, the initial charge will be dismissed and made non-public on the criminal record.
When a 17-20-year-old probationer is struggling to complete the requirements of probation, their Probation Officer (or the sentencing judge) can refer them to YADC, where they are connected to more support and given more intensive case management. Each participant receives support from their Probation Officer, Program Assistant, YADC Judge, Speak It Forward staff, Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services staff, and from the County's Health & Community Services department. Individualized goal setting and action plans are constructed with YADC staff, and weekly programming & biweekly court review sessions keep the group connected and motivated.
During our weekly programming sessions, the Community Action Agency's Community Education Coordinator facilitates discussion and activities with participants. Each week, a different theme is the focus, and YADC participants can explore and debate these ideas in a safe setting while using creative writing and spoken word techniques to express themselves and reflect on their thoughts.
All graduates of YADC are discharged from probation and have their charge dismissed and as a way to inspire and motivate current program participants, each graduate reads a piece that they wrote that describes their time in the Program and what they gained from it.
*The Program is designed to engage participants for 6-8 months, but depending on each individual's success with probation and Program requirements, this time may be extended for up to 24 months.
SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS
Our mission is to work alongside young adult offenders to create a network of support that not only fosters successful attainment of their diversion, but valuable skills to use as they move forward in life. Each individual must also, as a requirement of the program, complete a service-learning project in an area that is meaningful to them. Participants who are beginning their projects at the same time are encouraged to collaborate and implement a project together. By speaking with local non-profit organizations and learning about what its needs are, YADC participants not only create a project that aims to help fulfill its mission, but also allows them to gain valuable communication and employment skills themselves. By working with participants to coordinate and complete these projects, YADC staff hope that participants will leave the program with a heightened sense of responsibility to self and community, and that they will feel more connected to issues that affect each of us.
YADC AND THE KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY
We are always looking to work with groups and leaders in our community who have an interest in raising the bar as to what Kalamazoo can do! If you have experience with the criminal justice system and would like to speak about your experience, you can volunteer to be a guest speaker at our Program. Are you interested in working as a mentor or tutor for any of our participants who are in school? We want to meet you! Also, if you have any kind of individual or group service project that you need more hands to help finish, let us know by clicking the button below or visiting our Contact Us page.