The Misdemeanor Diversion Program allows 16- and 17-year-old first-time offenders to participate in a 90-day program aimed at addressing the individual’s issues and needs and to prevent future offenses.
Caitlin Fenhagen, the MDP coordinator and Orange County’s criminal justice resource manager, will lead the program in Orange County. The county’s program is based off on a model created by Durham Chief District Court Judge Marcia Morey that has been used by Durham County since 2014.
Fenhagen said one of the main goals of the program is fixing the issues that might have led the individual to commit the crime initially.
“If they have a substance abuse problem, we’ll usually send them to ASAC, which stands for adolescent substance abuse counseling,” Fenhagen said. “If they have a mental health issue, we have several programs that help with mental health.”
She said if there are no substance abuse or mental health issues that need to be addressed, the person is sent to do 10 to 12 hours of community service.
“Instead of arresting or citing them, the office will actually give them a card and refer them to the misdemeanor program coordinator, which is me,” Fenhagen said. “The officers will write an incident report, but it will never be entered into the courts system or any public database.”
The person is required to attend an educational mandatory court session.
“It’s meant to educate them on the collateral consequences of being involved in the criminal justice system so that they realize the opportunity they’ve been given,” Fenhagen said.
