John—
In most of the country, people convicted of nonviolent illegal gun possession offenses face significant jail time, often subject to harsh mandatory minimums. This “tough on crime” approach has a disparate impact on young men of color, and data shows that it doesn’t improve public safety.
A prosecutor-led diversion program in Minneapolis offers another way forward. When participants of the program graduate, no conviction goes on their record. They’re also three to five times less likely to reoffend than people convicted of the same charges who don’t participate in a diversion program.
This program is called Pathways to New Beginnings, and it’s at the center of our latest report: A Second Chance: The Case for Gun Diversion Programs.
Prosecutor-led diversion programs allow us to improve public safety and reduce mass incarceration by rethinking our approach to nonviolent gun possession. In the report, we break down what these programs are, how they work, and why they’re worth pursuing. We also offer recommendations to prosecutors and state legislators to encourage the proliferation and evolution of these programs.
