Curfew Diversion Program

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office instituted a curfew diversion program. The program had three goals: keep youth out of juvenile court thus preventing creation of a court record; provide an immediate response to the curfew violation involving the family and nonprofit agencies; reduce the number of cases in juvenile court so serious crimes would receive the attention they need. Curfew laws have been a significant tool in preventing youth from being victims of crimes or committing crimes. However, it has created unnecessary criminal records without providing families with meaningful services to address the issues causing the curfew violations. Most youth and families just need to be educated about curfew. But some youth and families need help. The county attorney’s office established a partnership with community organizations and county departments that already were providing some services to teenagers. The curfew diversion program began as a pilot project in June 2016. Within six months, it was so successful that the decision was made to institute it county-wide. In the first 18 months, 740 (84%) of the 884 curfew cases were diverted. Those are youth who have been kept out of the system, with better interventions, and a reduction in court calendars.