Corner Health’s Re-Entry, Pre Arrest Deflection, Intervention, and Diversion (RAPID) program is designed to enforce preventative measures for youth and young adults who are at risk for becoming involved with the justice system.
According to the Safety and Justice Challenge, young adults (ages 18-24) represent 9.5% of the U.S. population but account for 23% of all arrests. Moreso, in 2023, the Black youth incarceration rate was 293 per 100,000, compared to 52 per 100,000 for white youth according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. RAPID partners with local law enforcement, schools and community agencies to find alternatives to arrest and create new paths for young people in Washtenaw County.
In partnership with the Washtenaw sheriff’s office, Corner Health Center created RAPID to ensure that low-level offenses don’t hurt youth’s chances at life. Young people can be referred to a variety of different paths informed by the mental health and environmental challenges they face. These paths are taken rather than conventional law enforcement in order to benefit the individual.
RAPID follows three different tracks: intervention, pre-arrest deflection and re-entry. The intervention track focuses on prevention above everything else. It does this by placing at risk youth into places that allow them to mediate behavioral issues and engage with the community.
Similarly, the pre-arrest deflection path works through partnerships with local law enforcement to have youth referred directly to Corner Health for low-level, non-violent offenses rather than being charged directly. This track allows for youth to take accountability for their actions while still giving them a chance to make change in their lives. Finally, the re-entry track helps youth and young adults make a smooth move back into their communities.
In partnership with Eastern Michigan University, the track provides options for schooling, housing and employment after detention.
