The Emerging Adult Program (EAP) is a pre-charge, restorative justice diversion program for young adults between the ages of 18 to 25. The goal of the program is to improve criminal justice outcomes for harmed parties, responsible parties, and the community.

The EAP provides young adult offenders with the opportunity to avoid formal charges on a recent criminal offense by participating in a series of restorative justice circles and completing an accountability plan. The restorative justice circles are led by community facilitators who have been trained in restorative justice. The EAP requires the young adults to accept responsibility for their actions while also offering them the opportunity to redirect their lives by completing a personalized accountability plan. This plan is intended to repair the harm caused by their crime, increase access to local services and resources, and engage with the community.

This collaborative inter-agency program involves Community Solutions of Central Oregon, Thrive Central Oregon, Deschutes Defenders, Central Oregon Inter-governmental Council (COIC), and Deschutes County Behavioral Health Services Intensive Youth Services.

The EAP launched in 2021 as a pilot initiative, and was expanded in 2022 when the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office was awarded a restorative justice grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.

Currently, the program is recruiting community members to serve as EAP community facilitators. Please follow the link below to apply to be a Community Facilitator. Applications are due by October 24th.

EAP Program Goals

Increase community safety

Improve victim and offender outcomes

Reduce recidivism

EAP Objectives

Reduce the three-year recidivism rate for young adults participating in the program to 30%.

Improve community safety by redirecting 50 young adults per year into a program that increases education and/or employment opportunities.

Improve victim outcomes by connecting victims to social services and increasing the likelihood of receiving restitution by 50%.

Expand victim access to community services by engaging 60% of our victim centered cases with a case manager.

Eliminate the need for approximately 120 court hearings.

EAP Participant Expectations

Accept responsibility for your actions in the case.

Participate in community-facilitator led Restorative Circles.

Agree to complete a personalized accountability plan.

Obey all laws during enrollment in the program.

Regularly connect with a case manager.

Reconnect periodically with the community facilitators during program's six month enrollment period.

EAP Eligibility

18-25 years old

Engaged in an approved type of crime.

Committed a crime in Deschutes County

Live in Deschutes, Jefferson or Crook County

General Questions

What is the Emerging Adult Program (EAP)?

The Deschutes County EAP is a voluntary restorative justice diversion program for adult offenders between the ages of 18-25 years old. The goal of EAP is to improve the lives of the victim (harmed parties) and the young adult (responsible party) who have made a mistake, by helping the young adult make the situation right and assisting them with getting their life back on the right track in order to avoid the unintended consequences of an arrest record.

The program involves trained community volunteer facilitators that meet with the young adults in restorative circles to understand their situation in a supportive environment. The facilitators work with the young adult to establish a personalized accountability plan, and a case manager provides assistance to the young adult and the harmed party. The responsible party is engaged in the program for at least six-months.

For additional details see the EAP Brochure.

How can I participate?

The EAP is currently only open to a limited number of young adults. Eligible young adults will be contacted by the EAP team to let them know that they are eligible to participate.

If you think you are eligible and have a case that has NOT been charged yet by the DA’s Office, you may contact the EAP Coordinator at EmergingAdult@dcda.us to ask if your case can be considered.

Will this change the outcome of my case?

If you successfully complete the Emerging Adult Program and obey all laws while enrolled, your case will not be filed in court. This means that formal charges will not be filed by the District Attorney’s Office and there will be no court record of the case.

What happens if I don’t complete the program?

If you commit a new crime or you do not make progress toward completing the agreed upon accountability plan, your participation in the Emerging Adult Program will be terminated. Your case will then be referred back to the DA's Office to be charged through the traditional criminal justice system, and the legal benefits of the program will no longer be available to you.

What happens if I op-out of the EAP after I have been accepted?

If you enroll in the EAP, but decide to withdraw from the program, you will no longer be eligible for the program‘s legal benefits. Your case will be referred back to the District Attorney’s office to be filed in court and proceed through the traditional criminal justice system.

When and where are the EAP Restorative Circles held?

The days, times and locations of the EAP Restorative Circles are currently being set. When the new dates and locations have been finalized this page will be updated.

How can I learn more about the program?

Eligible individuals that are interested in potentially participating in the Emerging Adult Program will be invited to participate in a Zoom Orientation meeting.

How often do I have to attend an EAP Restorative Circle?

As an EAP participant, you will connect with the EAP community facilitators in a Circle approximately four times over six-months. Restorative circles are held on Wednesdays or Thursdays at set times.

You will also connect at least monthly with your EAP case manager.

What is a Restorative Circle?

Restorative Circles are born out of indigenous societies from around the world as a supportive method to address challenges or discuss complex issues. A Restorative Circle creates an environment that 1) fosters relationship-building by valuing every participant, 2) avoids the passing of judgement, 3) provides equal opportunities for all participants to speak, and 4) encourages collective understanding of the issue at hand.

The criminal justice system has begun to embrace restorative justice concepts as a way to build community and replace the traditional punitive forms of discipline for some types of criminal cases.

EAP restorative circles are facilitated by community members who are trained in restorative justice processes. These volunteers dedicate their time to support and encourage program participants in making positive life changes. Some community facilitators have had their own ‘lived’ experience in the criminal justice system, which allows them to relate on a personal level to the challenges that EAP participants may be experiencing.