Diversion FAQ

Diversion is short-term case management program for youth and their families to voluntarily address an offense outside of the traditional Juvenile Court system. It is a collaborative and effective way to understand and prevent future delinquency without creating a formal court record.

The Prosecutor’s Office screens police reports and selects youth for the Diversion program.  If you are offered this opportunity, you and your parent/guardian must voluntarily choose to participate and sign a Diversion Agreement. This includes:

• Admitting to the behavior reflected in the report;
• Completing a social history interview with a Diversion Officer to provide insight about your risk, needs, and strengths;
• Collaborating with a Diversion Officer to create appropriate and attainable Diversion terms;
• Successfully completing all terms; and
• Paying all program fees and restitution.

We will work with you and your parent/guardian to determine appropriate and attainable terms that are targeted to your risk, needs, and strengths. Terms may include mediation with victims, letters of apology, restitution, projects or workbooks, online education courses, individual or family counseling, mentoring, drug and alcohol education/assessments/treatment, urinalyses, or community service.

We want you to succeed and will do our our best to help you complete the program successfully. However, if you are non-compliant or fail to complete all terms of the Diversion Agreement, we will send your case file back to the Prosecutor’s Office, which may result in formal charges being filed with the Court.

If you successfully complete all program terms, we will mail out a Congratulations letter stating that your case has been successfully closed! When you reach 18½ years of age and if you have had no further involvement in the adult or juvenile criminal court system, your Diversion file will be destroyed and the case will be deleted from the statewide computer system.

How many times you can participate is entirely in the Prosecutor’s discretion and considered case by case. Typically they allow only one case to be diverted per youth but will sometimes consider additional cases depending on the nature of the offense.

• Diversion is often faster, simpler and more cost-effective than the traditional court process.
• Terms are individualized to you, your family and circumstances of the offense.
• There is flexibility to work at your own pace, with minimal supervision.
• It does not create a formal Court record if completed successfully.

Yes, you may speak with an attorney to seek legal advice prior to agreeing to the Diversion program.

The meeting can be held in person at one of our two office locations, or over Webex video.  You may choose the location and method best suited for you and your family:

• 400 N Benjamin Ln, Suite 103, Boise
• 124 W Franklin Rd, Meridian
• Webex meetings require an email address for the video link

You and at least one parent/guardian will need to be present for the Diversion meeting.

It typically takes at least one hour. In addition to answering any questions you and your family may have, we will conduct a social history interview and discuss terms and services. We may need additional time if an interpreter is needed – just let us know.

You must be willing to admit to the behavior reflected in the police report to participate in Diversion.  If you deny the offense and behavior, we will send your case file back to the Prosecutor’s Office, which may result in formal charges being filed with the Court.

Both you and your parent/guardian must agree to participate.  If either of you declines, we will send your case file back to the Prosecutor’s Office, which may result in formal charges being filed with the Court.

When a police report is filed, it is submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office for review. The Prosecutor screens the report to determine if the case is appropriate for Diversion, and if so, sends the report to Ada County Juvenile Services. We create a case file and contact you and your parent/guardian to set-up an initial meeting.

Your Diversion case file is available to law enforcement and staff from the Prosecutor’s Office and Juvenile Services. Generally, we will only discuss the case with you, your parent/guardian, and anyone else you and your family approve. If it is necessary for us to communicate with school personnel, counselors or community providers for collaboration purposes, we will ask you to sign a Release of Information (ROI).

Not typically. If we have concerns about your behavior or involvement at school, we will ask you to sign a Release of Information (ROI) that allows us to collaborate with school officials.

If you committed the offense before you turned 18, you may still participate in Diversion if offered.

The standard program fee is $100, but no one is declined based on an inability to pay. A financial form is available for families who would like to apply for a reduced fee based on their income, number of household members, and/or other financial assistance received.

Restitution is money paid to the victim of a crime. Victims may request restitution for economic losses that are a result of the crime including the value of property taken, broken or destroyed, lost wages and/or out-of-pocket expenses such as medical bills.

All restitution requests are verified by Ada County Juvenile Victim Services.  Losses must be documented by a receipt, insurance statement, bank statement, pay stub, verified estimate, or verified letter on the victim’s behalf. No claims are approved without documentation.

If you or your parent/guardian disagrees with the finalized restitution amount, you may dispute it in Court.  However, you will not be able to participate in the Diversion program and your file will be routed back to the Prosecutor’s Office, which may result in formal charges being filed with the Court.

We can work with you on a payment plan to ensure restitution is paid. If restitution is not paid in full at the end of the Diversion program, your file will be routed back to the Prosecutor’s Office for non-compliance, which may result in formal charges being filed with the Court.