The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has announced a new initiative aimed at reforming juvenile justice through the Status Offense Diversion Project. This grant program is designed to support pilot projects in juvenile courts, focusing on diverting low-risk youth status offenders towards community-based services instead of formal court involvement and incarceration.
The grants are available for up to five juvenile courts, promoting innovative diversion programs that specifically address youths involved in status offenses. These offenses include actions such as truancy, running away from home, underage drinking, and ungovernability—conduct not considered criminal if performed by an adult. The SCAO collaborates with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice (MCJJ) for this grant opportunity.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kimberly A. Thomas, who serves as the liaison on juvenile justice matters and was part of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, stated: “The Michigan judiciary and our partners continue to make steady and deliberate progress in improving the state’s juvenile justice system as a result of groundbreaking reforms we helped pass.” She emphasized the importance of supporting courts leading innovative diversion programs: “Thanks to this new grant funding, we are now able to support courts that are leading the way in their communities with innovative diversion programs to help certain justice-involved youths chart a new path in life.”
This project follows recommendations from the Task Force's final report highlighting Michigan's need for a policy framework and service infrastructure to divert low-risk youth from the juvenile justice system statewide. These findings contributed to comprehensive reforms signed into law on December 12, 2023, which took effect on October 1, 2024.
The deadline for grant applications is February 19. Applicants must submit an application form along with a budget narrative and spreadsheet. A guideline manual is available to assist with eligibility criteria and application completion.
Funding for this program comes from Section 402 of the Fiscal Year 2025 Judiciary Budget through U.S. Department of Justice Title II funds.