Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin is touting the success of the first two years of his office’s diversion program.
Karlin says the primary purpose of the program is to remove appropriate people early in the justice process to avoid negative outcomes associated with formal processing.
Examples of negative outcomes he cites include increased odds of future offenses, stigmatization, and increased justice costs.
The State Attorney’s office has diverted 106 individuals from the Knox County justice system in the last two years, and 82 of those successfully completed the program.
Of the 82 that completed the program, only 2.5 percent have recidivated.
For a comparison, Karlin says that 36 percent of those sentenced to probation in Illinois will recidivate within three years of offending.
Overall, Karlin says the program has made the community safer while realizing cost savings and increased effiency.