For Alyca Reynolds, Yolo County’s “Steps to Success” diversion program offered more than just a dismissed court case.
“It helped me get out of an abusive situation with my family,” Reynolds said of the program, part of the county’s Neighborhood Court restorative justice model.
Arrested in 2018 on battery and threats charges, Reynolds got a chance at redemption through Steps to Success. She says its teachings also gave her the courage to move to another state, where she’s now writing a memoir about her life.
“You don’t have to stay where you’re planted, even if it seems like you should,” Reynolds said.
On Monday, Reynolds became one of 14 people to graduate from Steps to Success this week, the milestone celebrated in an online ceremony due to the COVID pandemic.
Steps to Success is voluntary diversion program that assists those whose criminal behavior stems from mental health and/or substance use disorders. As part of the Neighborhood Court program, it uses restorative justice practices that allow offenders to resolve their cases outside of court and avoid a conviction on their records.
The program involves a partnership comprising the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, Yolo County District Attorney and Public Defender, Yolo County Probation, Empower Yolo, Legal Services of Northern California and CommuniCare Health Centers, who provide participants with case management, legal services, employment and housing assistance.
It culminates with restorative justice conference during which participants take part in a facilitated meeting with the victims of their crimes, discuss the harm caused and reach a resolution that addresses the underlying cause of the criminal conduct.
“I have seen such a tremendous amount of growth at that point,” Adriana Galvez, a CommuniCare social worker who led the Zoom graduation ceremony. “It really is a transformative piece of the process.”
District Attorney Jeff Reisig launched the Neighborhood Court program in Davis back in 2013, later expanding it to include West Sacramento, Woodland and other Yolo County communities. Its eligibility criteria also has broadened in scope over the years, initially targeting first-time offenders of minor crimes, to now accepting repeat offenders and some low-level felony offenses.
It relies heavily on community volunteers who take part in the restorative justice conferences. At Monday’s ceremony, Reisig thanked those volunteers, as well as the graduates “for giving this a shot, because ultimately we want all of you to come back to the community as engaged, productive members.”
One graduate, who asked to remain anonymous, acknowledged his initial skepticism with the program.
He was facing a disorderly conduct charge, “something I did to myself over and over again through the years,” he said. He balked at first over putting in the time the program required, but relented after receiving encouragement from friends and his public defender.
“I’m really glad I did. It helped me get back on my feet,” he said. “This helps us learn our lesson and take accountability and move on with our lives.”
Another graduate lauded the program’s case managers. Without them, “I don’t know how anybody does it,” she said.
West Sacramento Police Chief Rob Strange marveled at the graduates’ accomplishments, as well as the program’s long-term benefits.
“It gives you all the opportunity to dig in and face things a lot harder than a stay in jail,” Strange said. “I hope nobody looks at this program and thinks it’s a cake walk to go through.”
Steps to Success is funded by a grant under California’s Proposition 47, a criminal justice reform measure passed by voters in 2014 that reclassified certain low-level felony crimes as misdemeanors.
For more information about the Neighborhood Court or Steps to Success programs, visit https://www.yoloda.org/nc, or contact program staff directly at neighborhoodcourt@yolocounty.org or 530-666-8401.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene