A Fresh Path for Young Offenders in Ramsey County
Ramsey County is changing how it handles youth crime.
Instead of sending most teens straight to court, the county’s attorney and public defender offices joined forces with community groups and police in 2021.
They launched the (Re)Imagining Justice for Youth program, which looks at each case as a whole.
A team that includes a prosecutor, a defender and a trained community member decides if the case should be prosecuted, diverted or dropped.
The goal is to meet a young person’s developmental needs and avoid the cycle of re‑offending.
Results, 2021–2024
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Court cases | – | 50% drop |
| Community‑based accountability | – | 25% of all youth cases |
| Serious cases sent to diversion | – | Higher rate than before |
- Teens in the diversion program re‑offended within a year at 4 %, versus nearly 30 % for those handled by the court.
- This translates to an 86 % reduction in recidivism for program completers.
- For assault offenses, future crime drops 66 % when handled by the program versus court.
Voices from the Field
“The program is about people, not statistics.” – John Reimer, chief public defender with three decades of experience.
He highlights how hearing a teen’s full story—such as a case involving a stolen car and domestic abuse—can lead to a restorative solution that keeps the community safer.
Bottom Line
The initiative is still new, but early results suggest that a collaborative, restorative model can reduce recidivism and lighten court caseloads.
It shows that when the justice system treats youth as individuals with unique needs, everyone benefits.
