What happens if my child is referred to Probation as a result of an arrest or alleged crime?
The goal of the Probation department is to provide the least restrictive program available to meet the needs of your child. The decision to identify the correct program involves looking at several factors. These include the nature o the offense, did it involve violence or result in an injury to another party? Is there restitution owed to the victim and how long will it take to pay the amount? What was the minor’s level of remorse or attitude about the offense? Is there issues with truancy, drugs or alcohol, or is the family experiencing a level of conflict which requires probation involvement? These are just some of the areas assessed. If the matter is a misdemeanor and there is no prior delinquent history then a six month program of diversion can be made available. Diversion is a voluntary program which may involve counseling, regular school attendance substance abuse intervention, and community work service hours. Diversion is offered in lieu of referring the matter to juvenile court
