FAQs

Diversion is an opportunity to reroute a young person’s case from the traditional juvenile justice system to community-based programming. It gives youth a chance to stay out of trouble and avoid having a juvenile record. The main goals of Diversion are to help kids take responsibility for their actions, keep the community safe, and support them in making better choices. Through Diversion, we focus on helping kids learn important life skills, like getting along with others, making good decisions, doing well in school, finding jobs, and living on their own. We achieve this by connecting diverted youth and their families with high quality programs, services, and resources that give them the support they need to grow and succeed.

Diversion programs last between 3-6 months, on average. Click "Calculate Discharge" above to calculate an approximate discharge date from a program based upon the day you entered.

No.

Not by the Juvenile Diversion Unit.

Yes.

Assigned program providers will contact youth within 72 hours (with the exception of Beyond the Bars, which will make contact within five days).

A juvenile record is a file that keeps track of any arrests, charges, or court decisions you have if you get in trouble with the law before turning 18. It’s like a report card for your interactions with the juvenile justice system.

Having a Juvenile record is more serious than just probation time or placement time. Even though juvenile records are often private, they can sometimes affect your future. For example, certain schools, jobs, or the military might look at them. The record can also block certain youth from securing housing, applying to college, etc.

See more about these consequences here:

Pennsylvania Juvenile Collateral Consequences Checklist

No. Your juvenile criminal history will keep showing up on background checks unless your records are expunged, and will be considered at sentencing if you are convicted of a crime as an adult.

Expunge means to erase, so expungement means erasing your criminal record as if it never happened. If a potential employer asks you if you had ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, you can honestly answer “no.”

Yes, if participating youth meet the necessary requirements.

Many opportunities are not available to people who have a criminal record. Expunging your criminal record helps with jobs, college admissions, student loans, licenses, housing, and government assistance programs.

No. Some charges can never be expunged, and the rules are different for children and adults. Juvenile diversion has the best chance and is the easiest way to get a clean record.

If your case is diverted, nothing. If you complete your diversion contract, pay all restitution owed, and stay out of trouble for 6 months, the DAO will expunge your record for you.

If your case is not diverted, expungement is much harder. Even if you win your case or the charges are dropped, you still have to go back to court and ask the court to expunge your records. If you lose at trial, you will not be eligible to ask the court to expunge your records for at least 5 years, and only if you were not arrested during that time.

No. Without expungement, people will still be able to learn about your arrest record and any charges brought. Those records can convince an interviewer not to hire you for a job, or make you ineligible for government programs such as Section 8 housing.

Restitution is a legal word that means the money you have to pay a victim to make up for the damage you caused. For example, if you are convicted of slashing a car’s tires, you will have to pay the car’s owner enough money for them to buy new tires as restitution.

You only have to pay restitution if you committed a crime that hurt a victim. There is no restitution for crimes such as dealing drugs, but if you damaged someone’s property, stole something from them, or physically harmed them, restitution is required by either your diversion contract or at sentencing.

Failure to pay restitution will result in serious consequences. If you are participating in a diversion program your case will be relisted, and if you were adjudicated delinquent you may go to jail. In either case, the victim can also put a lien on any vehicle or property you own, which prevents you from selling it or using it as collateral for a loan.

Restitution does not go away on its own, even if you declare bankruptcy. If you are unable to pay the ordered restitution, the court can work with you to create a payment plan that fits your situation.

Yes. Whatever the insurance company paid to the victim of your crime, you are responsible for paying back to the insurance provider. You may also be responsible for damages not covered by insurance such as the victim’s lost wages or out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the crime.

Parents are not directly responsible for the money their child owes the victim, but they are responsible for making sure their child pays. The court can order your parents to do things such as arranging for transportation to your job or managing your paychecks and bank accounts to make sure you pay what you owe.