Montgomery County Racial Justice Improvement Project

The Montgomery County Racial Justice Improvement Project (RJIP) will increase the number of minority youth able to access diversion services through two primary streams: (1) school districts with elevated DMC, and (2) Magisterial District Courts. Students and their families from target districts with the highest rates of disproportionate minority contact will receive services through a new school-based YAP pilot project. The proposed school-based YAP will serve as a pilot for additional school districts in Montgomery County, PA that are experiencing high rates of referrals of minority students to local law enforcement. The RJIP project will provide school districts with an alternative to police referral for school-based offenses. In addition, policies and procedures will be revised to ensure the active referral of youth from the Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts to the Youth Aid Panel Program.