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1. What are the advantages of Diversion to the community?

Local problems can often be addressed by utilizing local volunteers who represent the community’s best interest. Such would be the case in utilizing Diversion as a means to address local or community problems. Diversion is a considerably less expensive process than that of formal court processing.

The Diversion Program interfaces directly with community service organizations, counseling services, the schools, law enforcement, the juveniles themselves, and their families. This provides a community response and ownership to juvenile crime. Simply stated, Diversion allows the community to assume responsibility for its juvenile crime problems and makes the youth accountable to the community for his or her behavior.

2. What are the advantages of Diversion to the juvenile?

The Diversion process is confidential and private, unlike Court proceedings which are public. The Diversion Program is also more convenient and less time-consuming than the formal court process. While the Diversion Program normally conducts its meetings in the evening or at a time that is convenient to the youth and his or her family it is important to note that a Diversion Agreement cannot require a juvenile to serve time in detention (jail).

3. What happens if a juvenile fails to complete his or her Diversion Agreement?

If a youth does not follow the requirements of his or her Diversion Agreement, the case will be referred to the Prosecuting Attorney for review, and a formal Court hearing called a Diversion Termination hearing may occur. If the Court determines that the youth failed to complete his or her Diversion Agreement, the case will proceed to arraignment and will be handled like other Juvenile Court cases. If the youth does not appear at the court hearing, the court may order a warrant for the youth’s arrest.