Diversion Systems

Engagement #4: 
Develop early diversion and deflection tactics to avoid long-term engagement with the criminal justice system: prearrest, post arrest, and beyond.

Sponsored by:

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Project Information

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IBHC Diversion Status Report Narrative
Q4 2025

The IBHC Diversion Implementation Team identified four action items:

• Evaluate the processes around the age of detainment. This action item, led by the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, recommends statute changes related to the detainment of youth under the age of 10.  The action team met with Idaho Association of County Juvenile Justice Administrators to discuss collaborative efforts for the revision of Idaho Code §§ 20-516 and 20-520 of the Juvenile Corrections Act. Proposed language changes were circulated for feedback and approval within the agency, the IACJJA workgroup and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.  The revised statutory language is being prepared for submission during the 2026 legislative session.

• Implement two pilot court projects meant to divert justice-involved individuals with significant behavioral health issues. This action item builds on earlier work intended for using the opioid settlement funds. Although project proposals were developed, a subsequent interpretation of allowable uses of the settlement funds resulted in the discontinuation of those efforts. The proposed initiatives include three new tracks within existing treatment courts to serve individuals assessed as low-risk but high-need. A second proposal involves the establishment of an early intervention court in Canyon County to divert eligible individuals as early as possible in the justice process to address behavioral health needs. The action team is currently seeking alternative funding sources to support these projects while reviewing the original proposals and confirming continued interest from participating counties.

• Expand I.G.N.I.T.E, including behavioral health components to additional jails in Idaho. This action item original intended to evaluate the I.G.N.I.T.E as a type of diversionary program that would address inmates’ behavioral health and education needs. However, there is currently a nationwide evaluation underway to verify the efficacy of this program.  Instead, the action team shifted its focus to expanding the program into additional jails by building on experience in Bonneville County and other national resources.

•  Perform an Idaho systemwide review and gap analysis of existing and effective diversion and deflection programs/initiatives. This team has been identifying the different diversion and deflection programs operating in each Idaho county and categorizing them according to the Sequential Intercept Model intercepts. They intend to produce these results on a Tableau map.  This team was also charged with reviewing the findings from the SIM workshop reports, which are summarized in a statewide SIM report and spreadsheet. As the SIM reports are out of date and the resources and programs are constantly changing, they determined that the best course of action would be to sustain the SIM efforts by identifying an “owner” for the effort. As the regional behavioral health boards include individuals invested in this work and they already produce an annual gaps and needs report, the team is piloting working with the RBHBs to undertake the work.