ABOUT JUVENILE DIVERSION
Goals, Requirements, and Rights and Conditions
WHAT IS DIVERSION?
Diversion is a voluntary program offered to juveniles for offenses deemed appropriate by the prosectuing attorney.Â
Eligibility is determined by conducting an intake interview.Â
Diversion programs are based on the velief that not all cases are best handled through the formal justice system.Â
In diversion programs, juveniles are diverted from formal proceedings arnd are offered a continuum of rehabilitative requirements.
GOALS OF DIVERSION
- Allow juveniles an opportunity to receive educatoin and programming that will equp them to make better decisions going forward.
- Provide an alternative to the juvenile justice system.
-Reduce recidivism
-Recidivism means the likelihood of a juvenile to commit another law offense.
- Reduce the costs and caseload burdens on the courts.
-Provide youth with the tools they need to make responsible decisions.
-Reduce unnecessary social control by assuring youth, as citizen, are subjected to no more intervention than is necessary.
RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS FOR DIVERSION CANDIDATES
- Participation is voluntary
-Withdrawl from diversion may result in the filing of a juvenile petition in court
-Admission of guilt is not required for participation in Diversion
-Charges will not be filed if the juvenile successfully completes the Diversion program.
-Information remains confidential
-Financial inability to pay will not prohibit a juvenile from participation.
POSSIBLE DIVERSION REQUIREMENTS
*This is not an exhaustive list of Diversion requirements.
*In order to ensure the best chance for success, the diversion requirements are individualized for each juvenile.
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- Alcohol/Drug Education
-Tobacco/Vaping Education
-Diversion Fees
-Curfew monitoring
-Apology Letters
-Restitution
-Community Service Hours
-Responsibility building activities
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