Third Circuit Court secures $100K federal grant for juvenile diversion program

The Wayne County Commission convened on June 13, 2025, to discuss several budget adjustments and new initiatives aimed at improving community services and juvenile justice programs. The meeting began with a request for approval of budget adjustment 2025-535-85, which reallocates expenditures in the County Road Fund. Following this, the commission addressed budget adjustment 2025-35114, reallocating funds in the general fund and the jail commissary fund.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on budget adjustment 2025-351, which pertains to the circuit court fund. Kevin Martin, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the Third Circuit Court, presented a new grant of $100,000 received from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This funding is intended for a status offense diversion project aimed at youth who are referred to the court for behaviors that are illegal for juveniles but not for adults, such as truancy and underage drinking.

Martin explained that the grant would enhance existing diversion programs by providing community-based alternatives to formal juvenile court involvement. Edna Clark, Chief Assistant of Administrative Operations for the Third Circuit Court Juvenile Division, joined the discussion via Zoom, clarifying that this initiative is an extension of current programs designed to assist youth in navigating legal challenges without entering the court system.

The commission engaged in a dialogue regarding the integration of this new funding with existing programs, emphasizing collaboration with Wayne County initiatives. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further develop these programs and ensure effective utilization of the grant to support at-risk youth in the community.