In DeKalb County, a group of 17 young adults has recently marked a significant milestone, having graduated from the STRIDE pretrial diversion program, as per the announcement made by District Attorney Sherry Boston. The program, an initiative launched by Boston's office, aims to reshape the lives of participants by offering them an alternative to traditional criminal justice proceedings and the opportunity to maintain their future career and civic prospects.
Since its inception in 2019, STRIDE—which stands for Stopping Trends of Repeat Incarceration with Diversion and Education—has sought to hold these individuals accountable for their actions while simultaneously empowering them to actively rewrite their narratives within society. These efforts to reduce incarceration and disrupt the cycle of recidivism seem to boldly underline a commitment to both justice and rehabilitation. "STRIDE allows young adults who make a mistake to learn from it without permanently damaging their future opportunities," DA Boston stated in a recent press release.
Eligibility criteria for the program are well-defined: Participants must be aged between 17 to 24, reside within DeKalb County, and must either face charges that are typically beyond what normal pretrial diversion would allow, have had previous encounters with the justice system, or harbour a high risk of re-offending without supportive frameworks to aid in their independent completion of pretrial diversion. These young adults have pledged to commit to remaining crime-free and weaponless throughout their time in the program and partake in various educational and interventionist opportunities.
Upon successful completion of the program, charges against the graduates are dismissed—an incentive for many who wish to maintain employability and positive community involvement. "In the last five years, 60 young adults have graduated from the STRIDE program with new job opportunities, self-confidence, and a renewed sense of civic responsibility," DA Boston elaborated, expressing her belief in the program's transformative potential, as mentioned in the same press release. The recent graduation ceremony, held on Monday, featured a keynote speech from DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, who echoed the sentiment: "In DeKalb County, we believe that public safety is not just about enforcement, it's about prevention, opportunity, and accountability working together."
Graduates of the program have completed a rigorous 12-month slate of requirements, including cognitive behavioral counseling, monthly meetings, and maintaining either full-time work or school attendance. They are also tasked with engaging in community service, civic ventures, and restorative justice actions such as restitution or drafting letters of apology. STRIDE is supported through partnerships with organizations like RED, Inc., WorkSource DeKalb, American Alternative Court Services, and Acivilate. Its administration falls under the Diversion and Community Alternatives Programs Unit of the District Attorney’s Office, led by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisa Moultrie and staff including Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Masset and Case Manager Tina Padilla.
Although their identities remain confidential, these young adults’ achievements show how rehabilitation and accountability can work together, offering a model other communities could follow in criminal justice reform.
