Diversion

The District Attorney’s Office has been offering Diversion for Juvenile cases for the past 16 years. Diversion Coordinators, along with the assistance of Deputy District Attorneys in Juvenile Court, assess appropriate cases to be screened for Diversion, based on criminal history, nature of the offense, victim/community input, and accountability of the Juvenile and their family. All Diversion programs within the District Attorney’s Office are voluntary, so the Juvenile and their family must be interested and on board with the program being offered. Juvenile’s must be willing to accept responsibility for their role in the incident which resulted in a citation or investigation with Law Enforcement. The Juvenile’s Parent/Guardian must also be supportive of their child’s participation in the program. Program requirements are determined after meeting with the Juvenile and their family, and completing a screening, to get to know them and their situation better. 

The Diversion for Juveniles that Sexually Offend (JSXO Diversion) is a Juvenile Diversion Program for juveniles who have committed sexual offenses.  It is part of the Juvenile Division of the District Attorney’s Office and is coordinated by the Diversion Coordinator under the supervision and direction of Chief Deputy District Attorney, Robert J. Percifield.  

This program helps assess the appropriateness of juveniles entering into a diversion program for sexual offenses or inappropriate boundary offenses.  Since the court process for any defendant can take up to months, or much longer, to reach a disposition, one of the main objectives of this program is to ensure that the juveniles receive the most appropriate treatment for their offense in a prompt manner. Juveniles accepted into this voluntary diversion program will not have to enter a guilty plea or register as a sex offender.  

The Diversion for Juvenile Prevention and Response Program (JPR Diversion) is a Juvenile Diversion Program for juveniles who are identified to have presenting risk factors to be exploited. It is part of the Juvenile Division of the District Attorney’s Office and is coordinated by the Diversion Coordinator. 

This program helps assess the appropriateness of juveniles entering into a diversion program for various offenses. Since the court process for any defendant can take up to months, or much longer, to reach a disposition, one of the main objectives of this program is to ensure that the juveniles receive the most appropriate treatment for their offense in a prompt manner. Juveniles accepted into this voluntary diversion program will not have to enter a guilty plea. This program also accepts direct referrals from School Resource Officers or other community partners, with the permission of the Juvenile’s family. 

The District Attorney’s Office has created a specific educational response to cases which involve unsafe internet behaviors, as well as the possession, exchange or distribution of nude images.This program accepts referrals from School Resource Officers or other community partners, with the permission of the Juvenile’s family. This program involves a two hour presentation, in which the Juvenile and their family attend together, aimed at increasing awareness of the current laws in place, what some of the risks of unsafe internet use, as well as taking/sending nude images, are. This presentation also provides tips for parents/guardians to help monitor their children’s phone/internet use. The second part of the program requires that Juveniles and their families process the incident/behaviors that resulted in their referral to the program with a counselor or therapist. Upon completion of this program, if the Juvenile does have a pending case or summons with the District Attorney’s Office, the case is closed successfully without any charges being filed.