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Strategic Initiatives

Strategic Initiatives

Diversion Programs – Youth, Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office takes a constructive, community-first approach to criminal justice focused on community-based social services to reduce recidivism, racial disparities and inequalities in the criminal justice system. By reinventing and reforming the traditional response to crime and conviction, the Office works to increase public safety while also reducing its reliance on the traditional prosecution responses like incarceration, conviction, fines and fees.

Fresh Start
Fresh Start is a pre-arraignment diversion program intended to address the root causes of crime and improve public safety through social services, counseling, and rehabilitation as an alternative to fines, conviction, and incarceration for certain non-violent, first-time, low-level offenders in Westchester County. With Fresh Start, the District Attorney’s Office refers to the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health eligible first-time defendants charged with non-violent, low-level offenses, such as Petit Larceny, Disorderly Conduct, and Trespassing, among others. Upon competition of the program, the DA’s Office declines to prosecute the participants’ charges. Individuals who do not participate, or fail to complete the program, are required to appear in court as originally scheduled and face criminal prosecution by the DA’s Office.

Westchester Misdemeanor Wellness Court (WMWC)
The Westchester Misdemeanor Wellness Court (WMWC) offers eligible individuals community-based mental health treatment and services as an alternative to conventional prosecution. Operating out of White Plains City Court, the WMWC is another initiative to advance community-based violence prevention and rehabilitation that will serve as a practical and humane alternative for individuals who are arrested for low-level crimes and are in need of treatment and services. The WMWC will also be an effective early intervention tool, to help prevent some individuals from committing more serious or violent felony crimes in the future. For details on WMWC’s eligibility, read the State of New York Unified Court System announcement. 

Westchester Overdose Prevention and Treatment Initiative (OPT-In)
 The Westchester Overdose Prevention and Treatment Initiative (OPT-In) is a program that offers early engagement of community-based treatment and services to individuals with substance use disorders who have been charged with one of the program’s eligible crimes under circumstances where substance use was a contributing factor.

With the hope of reducing fatal and non-fatal overdoses, OPT-In will connect participants, following arrest and often before their first court appearance, with peer mentors who will explain the program and its benefits, and offer naloxone kits provided by the Urban League of Westchester. Peer mentors will direct participants to community healthcare providers who will develop individualized treatment plans.

Participants’ treatment progress will be monitored by the court and successful participation will be considered in fashioning appropriate case resolutions. OPT-In's harm-reduction approach is developed with the mission to create a proportionate and fair response to misdemeanor cases involving individuals with substance use disorders.

Requests for more information or questions about OPT-In can be directed to the DA’s Office at (914) 995-3415.

Mount Vernon Emerging Adult Justice Part (EAJP)
The Office has been a proud partner since June 2021 in this innovative and specialized diversion program that provides valuable resources, services and opportunities for justice-facing 18 to 25-year-olds. The program serves as an alternative to conventional prosecution, conviction and fines, and was developed with the Mount Vernon City Court, the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, the Youth Shelter of Westchester, and the Office of Court Administration.

New Rochelle Opportunity Youth Part (OYP)
The Office is proud to be a participant in New Rochelle City Court Judge Jared Rice’s community-based initiative that provides resources and services for intervention, rehabilitation, education, housing, mentorship and employment for emerging adults ages 16 to 24. Since its launch in 2020, the ground-breaking program has had more than 90% of its participants graduate without a criminal record and advance to employment with small businesses in the local community.

Specialty Diversion Courts

Specialty Diversion Courts

Specialty courts encourage disposition of criminal cases to reduce incarceration rates and allow offenders to get the help they need without the stigma of a criminal conviction.

  • Drug Courts

    The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Chief Administrative Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, operates “hub” courts for the adjudication of appropriate cases where the defendants are suffering from substance abuse disorders. Designating City Courts as “hub courts” allows Village and Town Justices to transfer cases to a drug treatment court where defendants will receive substance abuse treatment and supportive services to promote long-term recovery.

  • Emerging Adult Justice Part

    Launched in June 2021 in partnership with the City Court of Mount Vernon, the Legal Aid Society and the Youth Shelter of Westchester, EAJP provides meaningful alternatives to conventional prosecution and incarceration for 18- to 25-year-old individuals. The program connects participants to services, resources and opportunities, promotes healing to avoid re-offending, and strengthens public trust in the criminal justice system.

  • Mental Health Court

    Mental Health Courts offer eligible individuals community-based mental health treatment and services as an alternative to conventional prosecution and incarceration. The voluntary programs provide treatment plans that are tailored to each participant’s needs; for misdemeanors, the recently-launched Westchester Mental Wellness Court, operating out of White Plains City Court, offers a range of mental health services as well as substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, education assistance and job training.

  • Veterans Court

    Veterans Court, established by the Chief Administrative Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, is open to any criminal defendant who has served in the United States military. At the request of defense counsel, the defendant may be evaluated and, if they are a candidate for diversion, the case is transferred to Veterans Court. A treatment plan is then created for the participant and they are assigned to a volunteer veteran mentor. The program recognizes that the behavior that resulted in criminal charges may stem from a traumatic period in the military. The program’s objective is to provide the necessary services to help make a smoother transition to civilian life and avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction.

Read more …Specialty Diversion Courts