Seventeen young adults have graduated from the STRIDE pretrial diversion program, an initiative of the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. The program, which stands for Stopping Trends of Repeat Incarceration with Diversion and Education, aims to provide alternatives to incarceration for young adults charged with serious non-violent crimes.
District Attorney Sherry Boston launched STRIDE in 2019. Since its inception, 60 participants have completed the program across five cohorts. The most recent ceremony took place on December 15, 2025.
“STRIDE allows young adults who make a mistake to learn from it without permanently damaging their future opportunities,” said DA Boston. “The program reduces incarceration and interrupts the cycle of recidivism. Rather than label these young people as criminals, we offered them the opportunity to become role models and contributing members of our community. The 17 individuals graduating this year have all risen to the occasion.”
Participants in STRIDE must be between 17 and 24 years old, reside in DeKalb County, and meet specific criteria related to their criminal charges or risk factors for re-offending. During the 12-month program, they are required to remain crime-free and avoid possessing weapons while completing interventions such as cognitive behavioral counseling, monthly meetings, full-time work or school commitments, community service, civic engagement activities, acts of restorative justice like restitution or apology letters, and a book-based presentation.
Upon successful completion of these requirements, charges against participants are dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.
“In the last five years, 60 young adults have graduated from the STRIDE program with new job opportunities, self-confidence, and a renewed sense of civic responsibility,” said DA Boston. “I believe in them, and I look forward to their future success.”
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson delivered remarks at the graduation ceremony: “In DeKalb County, we believe that public safety is not just about enforcement, it’s about prevention, opportunity, and accountability working together,” she said. “Programs like STRIDE recognize that when young people enter the adult justice system, they are often at a crossroads. The question becomes: do we respond only with punishment, or do we step in with structure, education, and support that can change the trajectory of a life? STRIDE answers that question boldly.”
The program works with several partners including RED Inc., WorkSource DeKalb, American Alternative Court Services and Acivilate.
The Diversion and Community Alternatives Programs Unit (DCAP) oversees alternative prosecution options within the District Attorney’s Office. Led by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisa Moultrie along with Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Masset and Case Manager Tina Padilla, DCAP seeks solutions that allow non-violent defendants to maintain employment prospects while promoting positive community involvement.
Due to privacy concerns associated with record restriction guidelines for diversion programs like STRIDE, identities of graduates are not being disclosed.