What Is a Juvenile Decision-Making Course in Massachusetts and What Can Youth Learn?
A Juvenile Decision-Making Course in Massachusetts is an educational program, often tied to diversion, that teaches accountability, consequential thinking, and emotional regulation to system-involved youth. Key Takeaways A Juvenile Decision-Making Course in Massachusetts is commonly used alongside diversion programs run through police, clerk magistrates, district attorneys, and the Juvenile Court. The Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program (MYDP) reported that 80% of youth successfully completed diversion in its third year of implementation, according to the Office of the Child Advocate. Completing a Juvenile Decision-Making Course does not create a juvenile court record when the youth finishes the diversion agreement successfully. Adolescent brain research shows the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to impulse control and planning, continues developing into the mid-20s, which is why decision-making education is central to these programs. Parents, guardians, and Diversion Coordin...