Helping Your Community Create Pre-Arrest Diversion Programs: An Effective Alternative to Arrest

The Civil Citation Diversion & Deflection Network helps local leaders identify, design, implement and measure pre-arrest diversion programs for adults and juveniles.

On The Rise: A National Juvenile Deflection Initiative

Join the Youth Deflection Workshop at PTACC Summit 2025!

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | New Orleans Marriott | New Orleans, LA

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On The Rise: A National Juvenile Deflection Initiative is a comprehensive effort aimed at reducing youth involvement in the justice system by implementing youth deflection programs, including youth pre-arrest deflection.

The mission: to educate and promote the implementation of juvenile deflection initiatives so that all youth, whether in school, community, child welfare, or other venues, who come into contact with law enforcement or the juvenile justice system have access to a deflection option.

The vision: for all young people across the country who come into contact with the justice system to have the opportunity for deflection in place of formal justice processing, which often results in a criminal history.

For a deeper understanding, review the following articles of youth pre-arrest deflection:

Understanding Youth Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion – PTACC Collaborative

Data-Driven Deflection: A Systems Approach to Reducing Juvenile Arrests – R Street Policy Study, No. 290 – June 2023

Juvenile Deflection Explainer – R Street Institute – July 2025

Pre-arrest Diversion for Juveniles: The Right Choice – Mark Fontaine, Civil Citation

Diversion and Deflection Network

How to Develop a Pre-arrest Diversion (PAD) Program, Step by Step – Peria Duncan, Civil Citation Diversion and Deflection Network

Key Players in the Establishment of PAD

Who We Are

The Civil Citation Diversion & Deflection Network (CCDDN) is a nonprofit that promotes the expansion of both juvenile and adult pre-arrest diversion programs. CCDDN was created after the success of both juvenile and adult pre-arrest diversion programs in Leon County, Florida.

Learn more about CCN

What is Pre-Arrest Diversion

Pre-arrest diversion (PAD) programs, also known as civil citation, are an innovative community response for addressing low-level offenses often connected with behavioral health needs. These programs offer efficient and effective alternatives to traditional responses to low-level crime. While PAD programs are growing nationally and internationally, they remain underutilized.

Through PAD programs, instead of arresting a person, law enforcement can issue a referral to a civil citation program. This approach reduces the collateral consequences of an arrest for the person and creates an opportunity to connect people with services, including treatment for substance use disorders and mental health care. These connections help redirect individuals toward healthier behavioral pathways.

People who qualify for and successfully complete a pre-arrest diversion program benefit from not having an arrest on their record. PAD programs also support public safety by assessing and engaging participants in appropriate responses to their behavior, such as intervention services, educational sessions, and community service.

Chief of Police Dan Meloy (Ohio)

As a Chief of Police, I am often asked, “Why does law enforcement commit officers and resources to support deflection and pre-arrest diversion efforts?” My answer is simple... Law Enforcement, and many of our agencies’ “Mission” and “Value” statements, make statements that commit our agencies and officers to provide unbiased service and/or positively impact those they may encounter at various stages of their lives. Additionally, my agency’s “Code of Ethics” reminds officers of two significant responsibilities associated with our service as an officer. “Service above self,” and “Self-sacrificing service.” These two “standards” should never be taken lightly and ensure our commitment to a higher standard. Deflection and pre-arrest diversion efforts allow law enforcement to demonstrate that we can meet those ethical standards.

LE Officer James-(Florida)

"The Civil Citation program is a unique tool in the community to effectively enforce the law without permanently labeling an individual as a criminal."

Juvenile Civil Citation Graduate

"Hanging out with friends, I made a bad choice resulting in a minor offense. I am so grateful for the Civil Citation program because I did not have an arrest on my record. I was admitted to a University Law School with the entirety of my tuition paid for. I worked in the judicial chambers for a Court of Appeals judge. Now I am about to graduate from law school. And this fall, I will be in a courtroom litigating."

Pre-Arrest Diversion Programs

Resources

Check back for additional resources as new materials continue to be added!