TALKING ABOUT PROBATION, DIVERSION AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

Tool Kit

Coalition for Juvenile Justice

May 25, 2023

Talking About Probation, Diversion and Restorative Justice

• Casey’s objective: research-tested plain language for general audiences and decision makers.
• Fenton and The Harris Poll research:
• 2021
• 2022 add-on to gauge the public’s thoughts on changes in crime trends and opinions on youth gun possession

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Tool Kit Contents

• Research findings
• Core messages and narrative
• Hot-topic question bank
• Media engagement tips
• Approaching a crisis
• Relevant Casey resources

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https://www.aecf.org/resources/juvenile-probation-messaging-tool-kit

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Messaging Insights

Message Insights

• Acknowledge the role of race as a driver of inequities.
• The public already agrees that the juvenile justice system is failing young people and needs reform.
• There is still a significant challenge with where the public places responsibility. Many Americans fault families and low-income communities rather than the juvenile justice system as a whole.
• There is clearly an age (around 17) at which the public loses its patience and hardens its stance against second chances.

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Message Insights

• There is a belief that youth can change, but they also need rehabilitation and consequences. The public does not believe that youth will outgrow problematic behaviors if they are left alone and given time to mature. Consequences remain an important part of the system for many.
• Eight in ten believe that “being held accountable for their actions within the juvenile justice system ends up helping kids in the long run.”
• Violent crimes merit stricter consequences. There are still slightly more than a third of people (35%) who believe removal from the community to a secure facility is an appropriate deterrence from future violence.

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Message Insights

• Recognize that probation is not well understood by the public and that it is seen by many as a beneficial outcome.
• Clarify “diversion” by better describing it.
• Understand that restorative justice is a new concept to many Americans.
• Many feel that restorative justice would be appropriate for “lesser crimes,” but would not work for most violent or serious crimes.
• While most feel that this process could help to mitigate racial inequities, they are also skeptical that the system would be applied equally across racial and socioeconomic classes.

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Opportunity Despite Sentiment That Crime Has Increased

Message Insights from March 2022 Research

There is still support for community-based responses and restorative justice practices when it comes to probation and system reform despite sentiment that crime has increased.

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Survey Results

• Overwhelming majority (85%) believe youth can be diverted away from system, benefit from family/community involvement
• “Probation officers… should be emphasizing strong relationships, motivation and guidance that supports growth, behavior changes, long-term success.”
• Overwhelming majority (86%) believe youth need to be supported by community resources
• “[Y]oung people… connected to things like sports, work, school and community… are less likely to get in trouble with the law, but some young people may need more support in making those positive connections, especially in communities without adequate resources.”

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Survey Results

• Only a small fraction (10%) want young people to serve prison time for unlawfully possessing a gun if they haven’t used it
• 16%: Warning�25%: Fine�49%: Arrest with probation�10%: Arrest with prison time

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Opportunity

• Let policymakers know that most Americans support common-sense, community-based responses

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Applying the Messaging Guidance

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https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article273928160.html

Remann Hall programs turn around at-risk kids’ lives. Can they help prevent violence? (May 4, 2023)

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Gun violence

Discussion