Los Angeles County officials announced they will give lighter sentences to juvenile offenders for their first offense in the county by providing diversion programs instead of jail time.  

In January 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan that would make diversion programs a centerpiece of the county’s juvenile justice system.

The diversion programs touted by the county are not new to some law enforcement agencies, including in Santa Clarita. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station started a diversion program, called “Teen Court,” 10 years ago

“We take juvenile first time offenders who live within the jurisdiction of the Santa Clarita station,” said Dan Finn, a detective with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Teen Court provides first time offenders with a second chance to avoid further criminal acts, said Finn.

“We deal with juveniles that have committed misdemeanors and even felonies,” he said. “The only limits are: we don’t take serious felony charges like gang related crime, rape, murder (or) robbery.”

The juveniles that go through Teen Court are put onto a six month probation period after pleading guilty to a jury of their peers from local high schools and junior high schools.

During the six month probation, the minors are required to do community service, write letters of apology and pay restitution to the victim or victims if needed.  

“There is no jail time or house arrest,” Finn said.

During the probation period there are some restrictions placed on the offenders, according to officials.

“If a petty theft is committed at the mall, the juvenile is not allowed at the mall unless with a parent,” said Finn. “Or if a crime is committed with the help of someone else, the two are ordered to stay separated until probation is served.”

The detective said this program is a way to give young Santa Clarita residents an opportunity to get their life back on track.

“After they serve their probation sentence, they will not have a criminal record following them,” said Finn.

However, if the first time offender commits a crime before their probation is over, the first crime, as well as the new crime, will be sent to the Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, and no second chances are given, said Finn.  

The Teen Court Program has been an effective program for helping the youth in Santa Clarita stay out of trouble, Finn said. Over 50 percent of the juveniles who go through the court system without the program commit another crime after being released.

But Teen Court, Finn said, drastically lowers that rate. Less than 15 percent of the juveniles who go through the Teen Court commit a second crime.

“I believe it is so successful because these juveniles realize they are getting a huge break, and a second chance,” said Finn.

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