February 7, 2023

The Broward State Attorney’s Office, the Broward Public Defender’s Office and Broward College are happy to announce that we are working together to make our community safer by reducing recidivism and helping move nonviolent first-time offenders from the courtroom to the classroom.

Working in partnership, the three agencies today formally launched a new pretrial diversion program to help nonviolent first-time offenders receive educational opportunities that can lead to jobs.

The Court to College Diversion Program is one of Broward College’s new Transformational Justice programs that works to remove barriers to education and employment.

The program offers nonviolent first-time offenders – and the victims of the crimes – the opportunity to be enrolled in skills training and to receive industry-recognized credentials that can lead to jobs.

“We always prefer to see people in a classroom instead of a courtroom or a jail cell,” said Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor. “This program will give students a second chance and the practical skills they need to be successful in the workforce. I am very grateful that Broward College has extended the offer to allow the victims of the crimes to receive the same opportunities.”

“With the Transformational Justice programs, Broward College is furthering its work to expand access to post-secondary education to everyone in our community,” said Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile. “Everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should have access to post-secondary education. “We want to give these residents a second chance by helping them acquire the knowledge, skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce and improve their opportunities for economic mobility.”

The Court to College Diversion program allows first-time nonviolent offenders who are charged with a third-degree felony, or lower offense, to avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction. Their cases will be diverted from the trial court process, and they can instead pursue an opportunity to improve their technical skills in high-demand industries. Upon completing the educational program and complying with all requirements of the pretrial diversion program, successful participants will receive a technical certificate and dismissal of the charges.

“This program provides an exceptional opportunity for first-time offenders to get on the right track and turn their lives around,” said Broward Public Defender Gordon Weekes. “Too often, we see young people struggle to overcome the hardships that follow a criminal record, and it’s important that those that have made mistakes and are in need of a second chance have access to programs like this. We are grateful for the partnership with Broward College and look forward to working together to change the trajectory of these students’ lives.”

The diversion program requires that the victim in the case approve the offender’s entry into the Court to College program. Once approval is received from the victim and the accused, Broward College provides free tuition options for both the victim and the defendant, thanks to the Open Door and Rapid Credential grants. This will cover tuition, books, and the cost of certification exams for participants.

Participants can choose from three areas of study. They must complete all courses and requirements in one of three tracks to receive a technical certificate:

• Marine Electrician Technical Certificate (12-credit)
• Automotive Service Technician (24-credit)
• Logistics and Transportation Specialist Technical Certificate (18-credit)

Broward College used labor market information regarding employment opportunities to determine which areas of study would be most beneficial to participants. The Court to College program is offered at the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in Pembroke Pines. Participants will also receive job assistance services, career exploration activities, financial aid application assistance, and more.

In addition to support from existing grant funding from the State of Florida, Broward College received $1 million from the Lennar Foundation to support the Court to College and other programs the college offers.

For more information about diversion programs that the Broward State Attorney’s Office and court system participate in, click here.