The Choice is Yours: Early implementation of a diversion program for felony offenders.

Source: (2013) Washington, DC: Urban Institute Justice Policy Center.

This report presents an initial review of TCY from its implementation in early 2012 through June 2013,
based on site visits conducted in May and November, 2012, as well as information extracted from the
baseline surveys and ETO MIS through June 2013. Given the focus on early implementation, the report
does not provide definitive information about whether TCY changes the lives of participants or how
much the program costs. Nonetheless, we do share some of the early successes of TCY and its
participants.

The first section of this report describes the TCY model, including the operations of the dedicated court
and the community-based suite of services (i.e., case management, job readiness and job placement
services, educational enhancement efforts, mentoring, and community service and restorative justice
activities). In addition, the narrative describes collaboration among stakeholders.

The second section focuses on program participants, covering their demographic characteristics, prior
educational and employment experiences, and their risk profiles and contacts with the criminal justice
system. Since the TCY pilot is at a mid-point, as previously noted, we are unable to assess participant
outcomes in earnest; however, we anticipate that a report on participant outcomes will be available
about six months after the conclusion of the pilot in June 2014.

Lastly, in the two remaining sections, we identify lessons learned during the first year of program
implementation with respect to communication, data collection, and planning for contingencies, as well
as stakeholder and participant impressions regarding the program’s initial pilot year.(excerpt)