New Juvenile Justice System Plan in the Works

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is launching a truancy diversion program as part of a juvenile justice system overhaul. County boards of education can apply for funding for a truancy diversion specialist to improve school attendance for at-risk students. A new law that changes the juvenile justice system requires a truancy diversion specialist in all 55 counties. The new justice system approach wants to reduce state juvenile justice facility populations by at least 40 percent by 2020, while reducing projected costs by more than $59 million.