In Joe Ribsam’s first year working in New Hampshire, following legislation in the State House was practically a full-time job.Ribsam, the new head of the Division for Children, Families and Youth, found himself reiterating requests for funds and.
Joshua Deveer doesn’t try to fight his place in life anymore.
“I used to think doing something was everything, and now I’m starting to realize that, maybe not doing something is everything,” says the 23-year-old from outside of a modest North Conway inn, where he pays $600 per month to live. “Maybe restricting my footprint here, making sure that I watch my steps is what’s most important.”
In July of 2017, Deveer was pulled over by State Trooper Clinton Trussell and arrested on two misdemeanor charges and one violation: operating without a valid license, disobeying a police officer and possessing marijuana.
In Granite State, data not the top priority
Police have wide discretion in how they resolve situations. Diversion programs are one alternative to arrest. Bill Gnade
Published: 4/20/2021 6:00:20 PM
Court diversion advocates across the country say diversion saves money and reduces crime. But in New Hampshire, and nationally, the data to support this claim is hard to find.
Without more data collection and analysis, experts warn that it will be difficult to prove to funders and the public that diversion is as effective as advocates say.
Data not a top priority
How many adults and juveniles go through New Hampshire’s court diversion programs each year, and how effective are these programs at reducing crime? Even though New Hampshire’s first diversion program was started more than 40 years ago, these questions are still difficult to answer.