The New York County District Attorney’s Office (DANY) is requesting proposals to evaluate Early Diversion Programs for Young Adults and Adults.

The three providers implementing these early diversion programs offer similar, pre-arraignment diversion programs to divert young adults and adults arrested for low-level offenses who do not have a criminal record away from court processing and instead to effective and tailored community-based responses. The investment is part of DANY’s broader investment in diversion and reentry support services to effectively address the needs and risks of young adults and adults in the justice system.

Applicants to evaluate the Early Diversion initiative should propose a research design that facilitates an implementation assessment, outcome evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the initiative. Although the programs that constitute the initiative are not exactly alike, they all involve one-day interventions that, if successfully completed, help participants avoid arrest records, prosecution, and traditional case processing. Applicants must propose to include all three programs as part of the evaluation of the initiative. Specific goals of the evaluation include an understanding of how the initiative and individual programs are implemented, whether the model is effective in reducing risk factors for criminal justice involvement (e.g., recidivism), and whether it is cost-effective.

This solicitation reflects DANY’s broad commitment to data-driven decision-making and to informing the research and practice field in New York and more widely.

DANY anticipates awarding up to one contract, with total funding up to $500,000 over a contract period up to three years, for evaluation of the initiative.

Documents

• CJII Request for Proposals to Evaluate Early Diversion Programs for Young Adults and Adults
• ADDENDUM 1: Applicant Questions and Answers

Deadlines

• The deadline to submit questions about this RFP was Sunday, October 28, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• The deadline to submit proposals was Sunday, December 16, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Background

ISLG is the technical assistance consultant to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for CJII. ISLG provides input to DANY, manages and provides guidance to the grantees funded under CJII, and conducts oversight and performance measurement throughout the lifetime of the initiative. All funds are administered through the Research Foundation of CUNY (Research Foundation).