County judges and DA expand Impact Project diversion panels across schools and community

Court administration and the district attorney told the committee that the Impact Project — a diversion program for low‑level juvenile cases — has expanded and shown high completion rates in schools and the community.

The administrative juvenile judge explained that the program diverts pre‑petition cases vetted by the district attorney’s office and local justice panels to handle low‑level offenses informally rather than through formal juvenile court proceedings. “These are pre petition diversionary cases…they’re very minor cases that are referred either by school officials…or in the community,” the judge said.

District Attorney Baratta said the program had grown: school justice panels handled about 150 cases in the past year with roughly an 80% successful completion rate; community justice panels handled about 100 cases with similar success. He described two tracks — school‑based panels for middle‑school students and community panels for high‑school‑aged youths — and said referral sources include schools and police departments. “If you complete, no charges are filed,” Baratta said.

Nut graf: the Impact Project is intended to reduce formal court involvement for minor offenses and to remove barriers that minor records can present to education and employment. Court administration said the program has expanded to additional school districts and aims to increase volunteer justice panels.

Discussion vs. decisions: judges and the DA described program statistics, eligibility criteria and panel formation. The DA and court administration are working to expand panels countywide; the committee did not take a formal vote but was briefed on program outcomes and expansion plans.

Ending: officials noted the program’s use of consent decrees and other measures to prevent juveniles from acquiring enduring records when they successfully complete diversion programming.