Campbell County/City of Gillette Juvenile Diversion Program

Acceptance into Juvenile Diversion

The Juvenile Diversion Program is a voluntary program offered to youth between the ages of 12-17, who are first time criminal offenders. The juvenile must have a pending criminal charge to be offered the Juvenile Diversion Program. Certain eligibility requirements must be met to be eligible for the program. If you are interested in knowing whether a juvenile qualifies for the program, contact the Diversion Office at 687-6311.

In addition, an interested juvenile:

• Must express interest in the program.
• Be willing to admit and complete a statement of guilt.
• Must not have any convictions in any jurisdiction, excluding minor traffic offenses.

If a juvenile qualifies for Diversion:

• Letter will be sent to home, and potential candidate will have five days to respond.
• If no response, ticket is forwarded to court.
• Generally, the program is six months to one year depending upon offense and level of services needed.
• The fee for Diversion is $50.00, and is non-refundable, if juvenile fails or quits the program. Juvenile may be referred to outside services which may include additional costs.
• Diversion insures NO RECORD OF CONVICTION, if the juvenile successfully completes the program!

Requirements while on Diversion

• Must be enrolled in school, and maintain C’s in all classes.
• Submit to random drug and alcohol testing.
• Complete Corrective Thinking Classes.
• Complete assigned community service hours.
• Pay restitution and submit an apology letter to the victim of the crime, if applicable.
• If necessary, complete a drug and alcohol evaluation or counseling. The juvenile is responsible for additional fees incurred.
• Submit to urinalysis screens for monitoring for controlled substance and/or alcohol use.
• Abide by Diversion curfew and all other requirements of the Diversion contract.

In the event a juvenile fails the Juvenile Diversion Program, the original ticket is forwarded to Court. New charges are possible. The Diversion Office appears in Court and addresses the Court. The juvenile is dismissed from the Juvenile Diversion Program and proceeds through the court system, if appropriate.

Campbell County’s “Top Four” list of crimes that land juveniles in the Diversion program:

• Minor in Possession of Alcohol
• Larceny
• Use of a Controlled Substance (e.g., marijuana)
• Breach of Peace

What are corrective thinking classes?

Youth going through the Juvenile Diversion Program are required to take a corrective thinking class. Based on the work of Samenow and Yochelson, these classes help participants identify their thinking errors, and pinpoint and address their irresponsible thinking. Youth analyze how they perceive the environment and how those perceptions affect their cognitive and behavioral responses to their everyday life.

The Corrective Thinking Class is a four week peer-based curriculum. Diversion Officers are certified in teaching Corrective Thinking. If additional services are needed, the Juvenile Diversion Program may refer a juvenile and their family to a more appropriate agency.

Juvenile Diversion Funding

Currently, the Diversion Program is funded through a variety of sources. The County Attorney’s Office funds one full-time Diversion Officer position and the community service director’s position. In addition, contributions from the Sheriff’s Department, the City of Gillette, and the County Commissioners help fund two full-time Deputy Sheriff positions, two full-time Police Officer positions, and a part-time Data Entry Clerk.