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Advocates tell judiciary committee to expand juvenile diversion and judge discretion
Summary
Proponents of bills to expand pre‑arraignment juvenile diversion told the Joint Judiciary Committee that judicial discretion could reduce racial disparities and unnecessary court contact for young people, and pointed to state-funded diversion programs as evidence supports.
Advocates and lawmakers urged the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to expand judicial authority to divert juveniles from the court system, telling the panel that diversion yields better outcomes and reduces racial disparities.
Why it matters: Supporters said expanded diversion would reduce unnecessary juvenile records and detention, connect young people to community services, and ease collateral harms that make long-term success more difficult.
Senator Becca R. Cream (testifying for Senate bill 10 51) and representatives of juvenile justice organizations said the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act allowed pre‑arraignment diversion but left categorical exclusions that…
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