DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston has announced the graduation of 10 young adults from the STRIDE pretrial diversion program. The initiative, which stands for Stopping Trends of Repeat Incarceration with Diversion and Education, is designed to hold young adults accountable for serious non-violent crimes while preserving their civic and career opportunities.
The program was introduced by DA Boston and her team in 2019. Since its inception, several cohorts have graduated: six participants in October 2020, twelve in April 2022, and fifteen in July 2023. The recent ceremony for the fourth cohort took place on September 30, 2024.
“STRIDE allows young adults who make a mistake to learn from it without permanently damaging their future opportunities,” stated DA Boston. “We developed a program that reduces incarceration and interrupts the cycle of recidivism.”
Eligible participants must be between 17-24 years old, reside in DeKalb County, and meet specific criteria related to their charges or risk factors. They commit to remaining crime-free and participate in interventions and educational activities. Successful completion results in dismissed charges.
“We know that we can’t continue to use the same approaches and expect different results,” said DA Boston. “STRIDE is a different approach that is yielding promising results.”
The graduation event featured a keynote address by DeKalb County CEO Michael L. Thurmond who encouraged graduates not to let past mistakes define them: “Don’t give up just because you made a mistake; you don’t have to live down to your mistakes.”
Graduates completed a year-long program involving cognitive behavioral counseling, community service, civic engagement, restorative justice acts, among other requirements.
The STRIDE program collaborates with partners such as RED Inc., WorkSource DeKalb, American Alternative Court Services, and Acivilate.
DA Boston’s Diversion and Community Alternatives Programs Unit offers alternatives to prosecution through various treatment programs under Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisa Moultrie along with Senior Assistant District Attorneys Isaac Howard and Ashley Masset, supported by Case Manager Tina Padilla.
Due to privacy concerns associated with the STRIDE program, participant identities are not disclosed.