Harm & Conflict:
Youth & Families
Youth Diversion Program
Helping Youth Move Forward Through Restorative Justice
The Youth Diversion Program partners with the Maine Department of Corrections, schools, and community organizations to divert youth away from the criminal legal system using a restorative justice approach after harm has occurred.
What Is Youth Diversion?
Youth diversion creates an alternative path for young people who have caused harm, keeping them out of the court system and helping them:
Understand the impact of their actions
Take responsibility
Make things right
Connect with support services
Avoid a criminal record that could affect their future
How Our Program Works
When a young person is referred to our program (typically by juvenile probation officers or schools), here's what happens:
Initial Meeting: Our facilitators meet with the youth and their family to explain the process and gather information.
Preparation: We contact those affected by the harm and prepare all participants for a restorative process.
Restorative Conference: A facilitated meeting brings together:
The young person who caused harm
Those affected by their actions (when appropriate)
Supportive community members
Family members
Creating a Plan: Together, participants develop a plan for the young person that addresses:
How to repair the harm
What support is needed
Skills that need development
Connection to community resources
Follow-Up Support: Our facilitators provide ongoing support and mentoring to help ensure the harm does not happen again.
Why It Matters
Research shows that youth diverted from Maine's juvenile justice system have significantly lower recidivism rates—about 7-11% within two years of diversion, compared to 53% for youth committed to a facility.
Diversion programs help young people:
Stay connected to their communities and families
Avoid the stigma and disruption of court involvement
Address underlying issues that may have contributed to their behavior
Learn from their mistakes in a supportive environment
Develop skills for making better decisions
Who We Serve
Our Youth Diversion Program is fully funded to serve:
Young people under 18 who have been referred by the juvenile justice system
Youth who have committed offenses that qualify for diversion
Maine's Commitment to Restorative Youth Justice
Maine has enacted laws to protect the confidentiality of restorative justice proceedings, ensuring that admissions made during the restorative process cannot later be used against youth in court. This protection allows young people to participate fully in the healing process without fear.
For Referrals
If you are a juvenile probation officer, school administrator, or other professional working with youth who may benefit from our program, please contact us at:
Youth Justice Coordinator:
Phone: (207) 504-5134
Email: facilitation@rjimaine.org
For Families
If your child is involved with the juvenile justice system and you're interested in learning more about diversion options, please contact us directly. We're here to answer your questions and help navigate this process.
For Schools
Schools can refer students directly to our program for any chargeable offenses without needing to go through a School Resource Officer (SRO) or Juvenile Community Corrections Officer (JCCO). This creates a more direct, supportive path for students who may benefit from restorative approaches.
Even if the situation doesn't involve a chargeable offense, we encourage schools to reach out anyway. We may be able to offer facilitation services, consultation, or connect you with other appropriate resources to address harm in your school community.
School administrators can contact us at:
Phone: (207) 504-5134
Email: info@rjimaine.org
