The Judicial Branch of Arizona, Maricopa County
Juvenile Probation >Probation
Community Supervision: Diversion
Diversion Probation Officers are assigned cases based on geographic locations and what zip codes that area
includes. The idea is to impact the offender and the community in a restorative process. The County
Attorney’s office decides what types of cases are diversion eligible and typically includes 1st and 2nd
misdemeanors and all status offenses, i.e., truancy, possession of tobacco, curfew violations. The County
Attorney, after reviewing a particular complaint may declare the case diversion eligible and send to
Diversion for services.
Probation Officers assigned to Diversion are responsible for scheduling interviews with offenders and parents to determine whether formal court action is necessary. If the offender takes responsibility for the complaint, the matter can be handled outside the formal Court process. A consequence is given along with specific deadlines for completion. The consequence can be community restitution and victim restitution, and also include treatment oriented issues such as individual or family counseling. If a juvenile denies the charge, a Petition Request is completed by the Probation Officer and then forwarded to the County Attorney for review. If the juvenile fails to complete the assigned consequences, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. It is up to the County Attorney to determine if the child will need to appear in Court.
Community Justice Panel: Diversion Probation Officers can utilize Community Justice Panels as an alternative to the cite-in process noted above. The panels, made up of volunteer members of the local community, employ the Balanced Approach and restorative practices as outlined in our Department’s Framework. Arizona Statutes give very specific timelines for citing a case in and for the completion of consequences.
If the juvenile admits responsibility for the offense during the Community Justice Panel, the panel can assign consequences, which are to be completed in 60 days. If the juvenile denies the charge, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. If the juvenile fails to complete the assigned consequences, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. It is then up to the County Attorney to decide whether a petition will be filed on the complaint.
Probation Officers assigned to Diversion are responsible for scheduling interviews with offenders and parents to determine whether formal court action is necessary. If the offender takes responsibility for the complaint, the matter can be handled outside the formal Court process. A consequence is given along with specific deadlines for completion. The consequence can be community restitution and victim restitution, and also include treatment oriented issues such as individual or family counseling. If a juvenile denies the charge, a Petition Request is completed by the Probation Officer and then forwarded to the County Attorney for review. If the juvenile fails to complete the assigned consequences, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. It is up to the County Attorney to determine if the child will need to appear in Court.
Community Justice Panel: Diversion Probation Officers can utilize Community Justice Panels as an alternative to the cite-in process noted above. The panels, made up of volunteer members of the local community, employ the Balanced Approach and restorative practices as outlined in our Department’s Framework. Arizona Statutes give very specific timelines for citing a case in and for the completion of consequences.
If the juvenile admits responsibility for the offense during the Community Justice Panel, the panel can assign consequences, which are to be completed in 60 days. If the juvenile denies the charge, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. If the juvenile fails to complete the assigned consequences, a Petition Request is done by the Probation Officer and sent to the County Attorney. It is then up to the County Attorney to decide whether a petition will be filed on the complaint.
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