Program Description

PINS Diversion Program, New York State

Overview

The Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) diversion program was established in 1986 as a way to reduce unnecessary court involvement on behalf of status offenders in the state of New York. It is a result of collaboration between nine state agencies, including social services, mental health, probation, substance abuse, and education. State incentive funding was initially available to counties interested in participating in the program. However, state funding is no longer available, and programs rely on a combination of funding from social services, youth services, and probation. The PINS diversion program targets youth who are at risk for a PINS petition. The program was originally targeted to youth under the age of 16 years. However, recent legislation effective in April of 2005 expanded the program to youth up to the age of 18 years.

The goal of the program is to divert status offenders from further penetrating the juvenile justice system by diverting these youth to a variety of community-based services and supports. Since its establishment, the program has been implemented in 38 of 58 localities based on an interagency plan. With the passage of the recent legislation, all counties in New York Sate are required to provide diversion services to youth at risk for a PINS petition and must designate either the local social services agency or probation department as the lead agency for the program. As part of the program, counties must develop a multi-year interagency planning process and cooperative procedures for diversion. The PINS Diversion program also involves the creation and support of a “designated assessment strategy” (DAS) to provide interagency and interdisciplinary assessments.

Upon referral to the program, the designated lead agency is responsible for conducting a conference with the individual who is seeking a PINS petition, the youth and the youth’s family. In this conference, the lead agency is required to discourage the filing of a PINS petition and assess the youth for appropriateness for diversion. Diversion options and services that are available vary by county, and can include preventive and medical services, and mental health and substance abuse services. The new legislation also prevents family court from filing a PINS petition unless there is appropriate documentation that termination of diversion services was the result of a determination by the lead agency that further diversion services would not be beneficial.

The program has achieved significant success. An independent evaluation found that:

• placements were reduced by 53 percent;
• the $4.5 million investment in the program saved $21 million in placements;
• there were 74 percent successful adjustments compared with 43 percent in non-participating counties;
• overall system costs were reduced by 10 percent.

References

Children’s Aid Society. (Accessed July 7, 2005). Youth and court diversion. Available at: http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/locations_services/youthmediation

Frequently Asked Questions: New Pins Law. Accessed 3/20/2005. http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/legal/legislation/pins/faqs_pins_law.pdf

New York State Office of Children and Families. (Accessed July 7, 2005). Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2005 PINS Reform Legislation Summary. Available at: http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/legal/legislation/pins/

Program Contact

Michael Bigley
Mental Health Research Specialist
New York State Office of Mental Health
Bureau of Children and Families
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
Phone: 518-474-8394