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PODCAST
November 5, 2026 ~ Lloyd Jackson talks with Wayne County Prosecutor, Kym Worthy, about a new Survivors First Domestic Violence Diversion Program that’s just been implemented in the county.
DETROIT ~ Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy is launching a new diversion program aimed at helping survivors of domestic violence and other gender-based violence avoid lasting criminal records while accessing support services. Called Survivors First, the program allows eligible participants charged with certain misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to have their cases paused for 180 days while they work with nonprofit partner First Step on counseling, housing assistance, safety planning and other resources.
Worthy said the initiative was inspired by similar efforts in other jurisdictions and is designed to address a troubling pattern in which many women who enter the criminal justice system have previously experienced abuse. Participants who successfully complete the program’s requirements could have their charges dismissed and removed from their records, giving survivors a pathway to stability, support and a fresh start.
