Alternatives to Sentencing/Post-Filing Diversion

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) 

Population: 689,545 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 280 | Contact Information

Through a grant from Innovative Prosecution Solutions, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Attorney General (DCOAG) has created and implemented a restorative justice (RJ) program aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending among individuals between the ages of 12 and 24 who have committed low-level offenses (e.g., unlawful entry, theft). Upon the victim’s consent, DCOAG facilitates a mediation process between the victim, the offender, and their families.

The RJ program includes an in-person conference during which the defendant admits wrongdoing and apologizes to the victim and during which an agreement requiring the defendant to take certain actions to make amends to the victim is reached which includes at least a six-month monitoring period to ensure compliance with the RJ agreement. By addressing the underlying causes of the offender’s actions, the program aims to empower victims while putting high-need youth on a productive and law-abiding path.