Mission Statement: Establish a diversion program that provides a reasonable alternative to prosecution while allowing for accountability without labeling

Vision: To provide our very best efforts to intervene in the lives of young people before they get into serious trouble

The YAB is an informal diversion program offered by the Pasadena Police Department to juvenile residents of Pasadena and /or students of the Pasadena Unified School District who have committed their first minor offense. The Boards meet with each individual juvenile and his/her parent/guardian(s), discuss the offense and establish an “accountability” contract with the juvenile designed to address his/her criminal behavior and any other underlying issues. The juvenile and parents commit to the contract for a period of six months. Tracking meetings are held every two months to monitor their progress and to ensure that the juvenile is following the contract specifications. If they successfully complete the contract, the criminal case is closed and removed from all records and the juvenile graduates from the program and receives a certificate of completion. If the juvenile is not successful, the case is filed with the Juvenile Justice System.

There are normally six Boards with six juveniles assigned to a Board. Board members are made up of volunteers who are residents of Pasadena, have completed the Citizens Police Academy, and have had appropriate training.

YAB Board Composition
• 3 Board members (volunteers)
• Pasadena Mental Health Counselor
• Life Coach
• Investigating Detective
• Program Coordinator

Juvenile Participant Qualifications
• Age 16 and under
• Resident of Pasadena or attend PUSD
• Have no prior arrest record
• Committed an offense

Accountability Contract
• Mandatory counseling
• Mandatory life coaching
• Maintain acceptable school grades and school attendance
• Perform community service
• Parenting classes for parents and/or guardians
• Apology letters to family and victims