Committee hears bill to expand juvenile diversion, remove completed diversions from youths' criminal history

Senate Human Services Committee members heard testimony Jan. 29 on Senate Bill 5426, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, which would expand developmentally appropriate diversion options for youth, prevent successful diversions from being treated as part of a juvenile's criminal history and create a grant program to support community-based diversion services.

The bill would clarify that completed diversion agreements are not part of a juvenile's criminal history, allow restorative justice components in diversion agreements, permit courts to extend diversion completion periods, and expand the opportunity to complete diversions to age 21 for offenses committed before age 18. It would also require the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), subject to funding, to establish a grant program to support community-based diversion programs and direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to deliver an annual statewide report on diversion use and demographics. A preliminary fiscal note identified roughly $164,000 for the current…