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Socorro ISD launches first‑offender diversion program to keep students out of court
Summary
District staff described a first‑offender program in partnership with juvenile probation and local law enforcement that diverts first‑time THC cases from the criminal pipeline into mandatory counseling, monitoring and parental engagement; 28 students currently enrolled and a $114,000 grant supports staffing and data collection.
Socorro ISD presented details Wednesday on a first‑offender juvenile diversion program aimed at preventing first‑time THC (cannabis) possession cases from producing criminal convictions that carry long‑term consequences for students.
Dr. (Doc) Graham, director of administrative services, described the program developed with juvenile probation and law enforcement beginning in 2023 and said the initiative requires participation by students and often their parents in counseling, attendance monitoring and tailored remediation. "What we wanted to do was to move the students away from having a criminal conviction... so the first offender program is the first in the region," she said. The district reported 28 students currently enrolled in the pilot and emphasized close school‑level monitoring of attendance and academics.
Trustees and administrators said the program’s goals include reducing recidivism, keeping students engaged in education and minimizing disruptions to career and post‑secondary opportunities. The district secured a grant of $114,000 to fund positions to support monitoring and data collection; the grant is for two years with a possible extension to six years if the pilot succeeds.
Board members praised the program as an example of local coordination across schools, probation and community partners and asked staff to return metrics to the board as the program produces outcome data.
