Sugar Land receives grant to expand Youth Diversion Plan offerings

Sugar Land’s at-risk youth will soon receive more resources to help them stay on track. 

What you need to know

At an Oct. 6 meeting, Sugar Land City Council accepted a $70,090 state grant to fund its Youth Diversion Plan, which aims to provide opportunities and redirect children accused of Class “C” misdemeanors who are at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system, Municipal Court Administrator Kendra Beverly said.

The grant will help provide additional services including: 

• Anger management

• Alcohol education

• Life skills classes

• More contractual and professional services, which may include therapy and counseling

The grant comes after Texas House Bill 3186 went into effect in 2024 and mandated cities create a program for early intervention and provide more resources for youth at risk of involvement in juvie, according to the bill.

About the program

The Sugar Land Youth Diversion Plan was created in 2025 with a goal of preventing formal criminal prosecution, deterring future criminal conduct and empowering kids to accept responsibility for their actions, per the city’s website. It is meant to provide diversion strategies for kids in the early stages of their cases, when they can be more effective. 

Under the program, a Juvenile Case Coordinator with the city’s municipal court, which is in charge of juveniles charged with a Class C misdemeanor, makes a diversion plan for each child before their first court date, per the city website. The plan—which has a $50 fee—is personalized for each child, but it may include:

• Community service

• Educational programs

• Counseling

• Letters of apology

• Restitution

If a child meets all the terms in their diversion plan, their case is closed without further prosecution, per the plan outline.