What is Court Diversion?
Court Diversion, the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program (YSASP), and the Civil DLS Diversion Program are alternatives to the traditional justice system, available in all of Vermont’s 14 counties.
These programs are run by community organizations funded by the Vermont’s Attorney General to provide the services. All of the programs are members of the Vermont Association of Court Diversion and Pretrial Services (VACDP).
Court Diversion
The Court Diversion program is an alternative and restorative justice response for adults age 18 and above who are charged with a crime. Diversion programming empowers collective community care by addressing the needs of the person harmed, the community, and the person who caused the harm.
Tamarack
The Tamarack program is an alternative and restorative justice response for adults age 18 and above who are charged with a crime, and who have a substance misuse or mental health treatment need, regardless of criminal history. The program helps connect participants to treatment services and assures accountability by applying a restorative process.
Referrals in FY’21:
- Adult Diversion: 94
- Juvenile Diversion: 9
- Tamarack: 20
- Pretrial: 156
Total: 279
Closures in FY’21:
- Adult Diversion: 77 closed; 61 successful [79%]
- Juvenile Diversion: 10 closed; 10 successful [100%]
- Tamarack: 7 closed; 5 successful [71%]
- Pretrial: 78 closed; 46 successful [59%]
Total: 172 closed; 122 successful [71%]
John Strout
Director of Court Diversion and Pretrial Services
jstrout@lrcvt.org
(802) 798-2154
Denver Bodette
Court Diversion and Victim’s Case Manager
dbodette@lrcvt.org
(802) 798-2197