Court-based Diversion

The Child Justice Act of South Africa advocate for youth in conflict with the law to be diverted from a punitive to a rehabilitative and restorative justice system, and for them to be successfully and safely re-integrated into their communities. The Usiko Diversion Programme offers a community based rehabilitation process as an alternative to incarceration. The programme facilitate healing, learning and therapy in intensive group sessions and within wilderness to ground positive transitions in youth-at-risk, including those living off the street, at risk of gang affiliation, and those already in conflict with the law. In working with young people in conflict with the law, Usiko has developed a diversion programme based on restorative justice principles to engage participants meaningfully with their offences and their life choices. The restorative processes are all designed to address problem behaviours by encouraging personal and social responsibility and emotional growth of the participant in order to open up their futures as a young person without a criminal record.