Juvenile Diversion Program – Authorized 19-2-303 and Diversion 19-2-704

By H. Michael Steinberg is both an experienced and a dedicated Colorado Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney

As a former Senior – Career Arapahoe – Douglas County District Attorney -in his13 years (1984 – 1997) years as a prosecutor – H. Michael was assigned to the prosecution of hundreds of juvenile prosecutions. As a Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer for the last 16 years (1997 – 2013) – he has successfully handled hundreds more juvenile cases.

Juvenile criminal defense lawyers must be specialized in this area and must have specialized training and experience to be effective on behalf of their clients… essentially just children. Because Juvenile Court is different than adult court –  an experienced lawyer in adult may be incompetent to practice in juvenile court.

Where your child’s freedom and future is at stake…go with experience every time.

Here is the statute referenced in the Article That Linked you to this page:

19-2-303. Juvenile diversion program – authorized and 19-2-704. Diversion

(1) In order to more fully implement the stated objectives of this title, the general assembly declares its intent to establish a juvenile diversion program that, when possible, integrates restorative justice practices to provide community-based alternatives to the formal court system that will reduce juvenile crime and recidivism, change juvenile offenders’ behavior and attitudes, promote juvenile offenders’ accountability, recognize and support the rights of victims, heal the harm to relationships and the community caused by juvenile crime, and reduce the costs within the juvenile justice system.

(2) The division of criminal justice of the department of public safety is authorized to establish and administer a juvenile diversion program that, when possible, integrates restorative justice practices. In order to effectuate the program, the division may contract with governmental units and nongovernmental agencies to provide services for eligible youth through community-based projects providing an alternative to a petition filed pursuant to section 19-2-512, an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to section 19-3-505, or dispositions of a juvenile delinquent pursuant to section 19-2-907.

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And – 19-2-704. Diversion

As an alternative to a petition filed pursuant to section 19-2-512, an adjudicatory trial pursuant to part 8 of this article, or disposition of a juvenile delinquent pursuant to section 19-2-907, the district attorney may agree to allow a juvenile to participate in a diversion program established in accordance with section 19-2-303.