Boulder County DA Office Wins Award for Restorative Justice and Diversion Program

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Each year the National Association of Counties (NACo) recognizes innovative county government programs.

This year the Boulder County District Attorney's Office received such an award for their Restorative Justice and Diversion program.

This program is designed to provide an alternative to formal prosecution. Offenders are able to take responsibility for their actions, repair the offense, seek help for underlying needs, and move forward without "detrimental, collateral consequences of a criminal conviction," states a press release from the Boulder County DA's Office.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “Our Restorative Justice & Diversion Program has become a model at the local, state, and national level. In 2018, we expanded our program and diverted over 600 cases while maintaining a 92% successful completion rate. This program enhances community safety while, at the same time, reducing the risk factors for recidivism. With each successful completion, the criminal case is dismissed, and the individual can move forward without the negative impact on opportunities for education, housing, and employment. Additionally, 99% of the victims reported they were satisfied with the way their case was handled. This award recognizes the incredibly positive impact that our outstanding staff and dedicated volunteers are having on our community.”