Philly diversion program touted two years after Floyd murder

The diversion program was not offered to those arrested for firearms offenses and other serious and violent offenses. Those cases were prosecuted to conviction and sentencing.

Those who were eligible were required to complete education sessions, programming such as job training and community service projects, and to participate in restorative justice circles, which included people who were harmed by the unrest like business owners and workers.

In some cases, those people received restitution from the defendants.

Jeff Brown, president of Brown’s Super Stores, which operates a dozen supermarkets in Philadelphia, said members of his leadership team participated in the program in response to some locations being damaged during the unrest.

“They faced people that destroyed their store and they worked it out,” said Brown.

“To my fellow business people, I’m not soft. This is not a soft thing. I’m not being a tree-hugger,” added Brown. “This is just a smart way to resolve it.”