Senior police officers, including the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado, took part in a workshop on youth diversion, a program that sends eligible young people in trouble with the law to rehabilitation instead of formally charging them.
It was run by the ministry’s Community Rehabilitation Department, with the Belize Police Department and support from the UNDP through the EU-funded PACE Justice Project.
Under diversion, young people under 18 who are in conflict with the law are referred to the Community Rehabilitation Department for support programs instead of being charged. The programs typically last three to six months. Depending on the young person’s needs and the offence, they may include counselling, life skills, mentorship and referrals to community organizations.
Attorney Diana Shaw led sessions on the legal framework for diversion, institutional responsibilities and proposed updates to police and court diversion protocols.
The workshop is part of the Police Diversion Training Campaign under the National Diversion Program, and follows consultations on the 2026 Revised National Diversion Protocol. The aim is to make sure police consistently consider eligible young people for diversion.
The Ministry said diversion is not about removing accountability.
“Youth diversion is not about removing accountability. It is about providing young people with the guidance, support, and opportunity to learn from their mistakes and make better choices.”
