Juvenile Unit

The Juvenile Unit of the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases involving individuals under the age of 18. Led by Assistant District Attorney Nicole H. Bachman, the unit is dedicated to balancing accountability with rehabilitation, ensuring that juvenile offenders are met with appropriate legal responses and opportunities for positive change.

Diversion & Community-Based Justice

The Juvenile Unit works with The IMPACT Project, a diversion program designed as the juvenile equivalent of Accelerated Rehabilitated Disposition (ARD). This program enables officers to directly refer juveniles to the IMPACT Project, which provides pre-adjudication diversion programs for young offenders. Members of the IMPACT Project Panel will then review these referrals to determine the most appropriate program or treatment.

In addition, the Juvenile Unit works closely with county-wide community justice panels, which address low-level offenses through dialogue-driven resolutions. These panels bring together community members, victims, and offenders to promote accountability and repair harm without formal court involvement.

School Justice Panels

To further support restorative justice efforts in schools, the Juvenile Unit has implemented school-based justice panels that specifically handle offenses occurring on school grounds or during school-related activities. These panels provide students with a structured, community-focused alternative to formal prosecution.