The juvenile is then scheduled for a Diversion Program Intake group prior to their Court date. The intake group consists of a presentation about the juvenile justice system and the Diversion Program. In addition, a Diversion Officer meets individually with each family to determine final eligibility for the Diversion Program . The Program conducts an additional screening to determine if the juvenile accepts responsibility for their referred offense and has the willingness to make changes in their behavior and follow through with the requirements of the program. If the juvenile is eligible for the Diversion Program and is interested in participating in Program, an affirmative recommendation is made to the Deputy District Attorney.
The juvenile and their parent(s) would then return to court for the entry of a plea. At that court appearance, the Deputy District Attorney would then officially offer the Diversion Program to the juvenile if he/she determines that it is an appropriate offer. The order for deferred adjudication is subject to the approval of the Juvenile Court.
If the juvenile's guilty plea is accepted and a deferred adjudication is ordered, the juvenile then returns to the Diversion Program at a prescheduled time to begin the program.
The juvenile's one year term begins the day they plead guilty in Court and receive the deferred adjudication.