Juvenile Court Diversion Program
ADAPT is a nonprofit organization that has been empowering youth across Central and Northern New Hampshire for over 30 years. Our mission is to support young people in making positive contributions to their communities and futures through restorative, community-based approaches.
Our Diversion Program:
ADAPT’s Juvenile Court Diversion Program offers youth an opportunity to take accountability for their actions while avoiding a juvenile court record. This referral-only program supports youth in repairing harm caused by their behavior through open dialogue, education, and service; ultimately promoting personal growth and reducing recidivism.
Program Highlights:
● Community-Based Solutions: Youth meet with a trained volunteer panel to discuss their case and co-create a Reparative Agreement tailored to their needs and strengths.
● Accountability & Support: Participants complete 3–6 months of individualized goals including education, community service, restitution, and written apologies.
● Holistic Services: We provide or connect youth with substance misuse education, counseling, case management, evaluations, and more.
● Successful Completion: Youth who fulfill their agreement (attend panels, complete all goals, pay applicable fees/restitution) exit the program with no juvenile court conviction.
Referral Process
Referrals are submitted by Grafton County police departments, school staff, or juvenile probation officers. Once accepted, youth and their families complete an intake process and begin their path forward. Through this collaborative and restorative approach, youth take meaningful responsibility, harmed parties find closure, and stronger community connections are built.
When the ADAPT Restorative Justice Program receives a referral on a youth from outside of the above listed communities, we proceed as follows:
Contact the referring agency for clarification about the referral to help determine which Diversion program should proceed. All appropriate contacts are made aware of any change. A follow-up email/letter is sent to the referring agency.
If there is no local diversion program where the youth resides, the ADAPT Restorative Justice Program will review the coordination of the potential servicing of the youth, and decide as to whether providing service is feasible.
