Talk It Out

In late 2019, the Juvenile Division partnered with the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) to create Talk It Out (TIO). The goal of TIO is to provide an alternative to formal prosecution that gives delinquent youth an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and make amends, while also giving the victims a forum to be heard and healed. TIO is only open to first-time offenders who have committed minor property offenses, petty shoplifting, and simple assaults with minor or no injury. Both the juvenile and their family, along with the victim, must agree to participate in TIO. Participation in TIO is completely voluntary. 

Incoming cases are screened by APAs who contact juveniles and their parents when an appropriate case is received. The victim is only contacted after the juvenile and his or her legal guardian(s) agree to participate in mediation. Once the parties have agreed to participate in TIO, a mediation date is scheduled that can be held either be in-person or virtually. The mediation process is conducted by an experienced member of the WCDRC to provide a safe and professional forum for discussion. A successful mediation is one where the parties have participated in the mediation hearing and executed a Mediation Agreement Form. The WCDRC will conduct a 30-day follow up in some cases to confirm a satisfactory outcome. Upon successful completion of the TIO program, the WCPO Juvenile Division will confirm that the juvenile's underlying delinquency complaint will not be pursued, and no formal charges will be brought.