Introduction
The “GoVia Highlight A Hero” app proposes tech-driven solutions to improve police-citizen encounters, emphasizing de-escalation and transparency. This article explores its features, contextualizes them within nationwide and Ohio-specific diversion programs, and rigorously evaluates the app’s assumptions and potential challenges.
Diversion Programs: Nationwide vs. Ohio
Diversion programs aim to redirect low-level offenders from traditional prosecution, often expunging records upon completion. Examples include:
- Nationwide:
- Drug Courts: 3,000+ programs offer treatment instead of jail (NCSL, 2021).
- Mental Health Courts: 150+ courts link offenders to services (DOJ, 2020).
- Youth Diversion: Programs like Philadelphia’s “Peer Jury” focus on restorative justice.
- Ohio:
- Ohio Diversion Institute: Targets non-violent offenders with education/work programs.
- Expungement: Ohio Revised Code 2953.32 allows expungement post-diversion, though delays are common (Ohio JPIO, 2022).
Criminal Records: Nationally, 30 states permit automatic expungement for diversion completers; Ohio requires a petition, creating barriers (Collateral Consequences Resource Center, 2023).
GoVia’s Features and Assumptions
- Car Lights On: Assumes visibility reduces tension. Counterpoint: Could heighten anxiety; no empirical data links lights to de-escalation.
- Zoom Live-Streaming: Allows real-time video sharing. Counterpoint: Privacy concerns (e.g., bystander recordings) and tech barriers (poor connectivity).
- Digital ID/Insurance Sharing: Streamlines documentation. Counterpoint: 26 states accept digital IDs, but security risks persist (AAA, 2023).
- Virtual Witness for Re-Entry Citizens: Connects advocates during stops. Counterpoint: Logistical challenges (e.g., response time); CAHOOTS-style programs show promise but require trained responders (PNW, 2020).
Critical Analysis
- Assumptions:
- Tech as Panacea: Assumes tech can mitigate systemic issues like bias. Research shows body cameras have mixed results (Lum et al., 2020).
- Cooperation Levels: Unproven that digital interaction improves compliance; procedural justice training is more evidence-based (National Institute of Justice, 2019).
- Counterpoints:
- A skeptic might argue: “Apps cannot address entrenched distrust in communities over-policed for decades.”
- Diversion disparities: Ohio’s petition-based expungement perpetuates inequities vs. automatic processes in states like New Jersey.
- Logic Gaps:
- No data links live-streaming to safer outcomes.
- Witness programs require infrastructure (e.g., 24/7 advocate networks), untested in policing contexts.
- Alternative Perspectives:
- Invest in community-led safety initiatives (e.g., Denver’s STAR Program) instead of tech.
- Prioritize diversion program reform (e.g., automatic expungement) over app-based solutions.
- Fact-Checking:
- Digital IDs: Valid in 26 states; Ohio permits digital insurance proof (Ohio BMV, 2023).
- Diversion Efficacy: Meta-analyses show diversion reduces recidivism by 8-10% (Urban Institute, 2021), but outcomes vary by program quality.
GoVia’s Take
While GoVia’s innovative features address real challenges, their effectiveness hinges on addressing systemic issues, tech accessibility, and integration with proven practices like procedural justice. Diversion program equity—particularly automatic expungement—remains critical. Rigorous pilot testing and community input are essential before scaling.
Sources:
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). (2021).
- Ohio Justice & Policy Center. (2022).
- AAA. (2023). “Digital Driver’s Licenses: State-by-State Guide.”
- Lum, C., et al. (2020). “Body-Worn Cameras: What the Evidence Tells Us.”
- Urban Institute. (2021). “Diversion Programs: A Review of the Evidence.”
This framework balances innovation with skepticism, urging evidence-based refinement of GoVia while acknowledging broader systemic reforms needed in policing and diversion.
