Juveniles arrested within the Culver City limits will get a shot at a second lease on life thanks to a partnership between the Culver City Police Department and New Earth, an organization that offers artistic and educational programs to youth incarcerated in Los Angeles and Orange County detention facilities.
Juveniles who opt to participate will be required to complete a six-month program with New Earth where they will leadership skills with the hope that they will reject a life of crime to become law-abiding citizens.
“New Earth is happy to welcome and mentor young people through the Culver City Youth Diversion Program,” said New Earth Clinical Program Director Marni Baim. “Utilizing trauma-informed and arts-based diversion courses to empower youth by exploring identity and purpose, we look forward to shaping new leaders. Once youth enter the juvenile justice system, they often find it difficult to get out of a pipeline that can last a lifetime, which is why we’re committed to getting them on the path of success.”
Helping participating juveniles walk the path of the straight and narrow will be a clinical case manager, whose job will be to help the offenders advance through the program and set them on a pathway to success.
“To lay the foundation for successful adulthood, it is important for youth to be mentored and guided into safe and healthy lifestyles early,” said Culver City Police Department Captain Sam Agaiby. “Through participating in the Youth Diversion Program, we are hopeful that we can divert youth from going down the wrong path while keeping our community safe.”
Detectives will determine which juveniles will have the option of enrollment in the New Earth program in lieu of arrest, and once a participant completes the program successfully, that participant’s name will be completely expunged from the juvenile justice system.
“The city is excited to have this program guiding our youth toward brighter futures,” said Culver City Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells. “The partnership between New Earth and the Culver City Police Department will help foster a pathway to success for our kids, and lead to a safer community for all,” “We’re thankful to New Earth and LA County for this opportunity to divert youth away from incarceration and into an environment where they can truly heal, thrive and succeed.”
New Earth provides youth with mentor-based creative arts and educational programs including poetry, music production, gardening, and fitness. New Earth currently serves 500 young people per week who are incarcerated in Los Angeles County detention facilities and placement homes and in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Upon release from incarceration, young people join our New Earth Arts & Leadership Center in Culver City where they receive career training, jobs, a fully accredited High School education program, mentorship, case management, nature expeditions, arts programming and wrap-around services that help them re-enter their communities with all the support and nurturing they need to make a successful transition.
For more information on New Earth or the Youth Diversion Progam, please visit https://newearthlife.org.