ANGOLA -- A study conducted by Trine University researchers finds that juveniles who go through Steuben County's diversion program are less likely to commit crimes as adults.
The analysis reviewed outcomes for youths who participated in the county's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative between 2016 and 2023. Researchers compared those results with broader state offense data and found lower adult reoffending rates among former participants.
The study was led by Trine faculty members Michael Smith and Darrin Wilcox. They reported the strongest results among juveniles who were screened using structured risk-assessment tools before entering the program.
JDAI emphasizes community supervision instead of incarceration. While national data on juvenile-to-adult reoffending remains limited, researchers said Steuben County's results support broader findings that diversion programs can improve long-term public safety.
County juvenile justice officials said the findings reinforce continued use of assessment tools and alternatives to detention as part of ongoing reform efforts.