Dek: A shift toward restorative justice aims to reduce incarceration and expand opportunity for young people disproportionately targeted by punitive systems.
Brief: New Hampshire is expanding its youth‑justice diversion programs, offering alternatives to incarceration for court‑involved young people. The reforms emphasize restorative practices, community‑based support, and education‑to‑employment pathways.
Organizations such as MY TURN are playing a central role, providing workforce training, mentorship, and advocacy for youth who face systemic barriers. Many of the young people served are youth of color who experience disproportionate school discipline, policing, and juvenile‑court involvement.
State officials say the goal is to reduce recidivism and strengthen long‑term outcomes, but advocates stress that diversion must be paired with investments in housing, mental‑health support, and culturally competent programming.
Why It Matters for Black & POC Communities: Youth of color in New Hampshire are more likely to be disciplined, arrested, or pushed out of school. Diversion programs—when properly resourced—interrupt that pipeline and create real pathways to stability, dignity, and economic mobility.