Youth Diversion Program
General Information
The Gwinnett County Youth Diversion Program works with certain first-time juvenile offenders and their families by offering an alternative to the juvenile court system. The program is based on the widely accepted belief that not all cases are best handled through formal delinquency complaints and court hearings. The program provides first-time nonviolent offenders the opportunity to resolve the matter within the community without beingprosecuted through the traditional court process.
The Youth Diversion Program (YDP) has successfully served Gwinnett County since 1996. The primary goals of the diversion program are to encourage at-risk teenagers to engage in more positive and constructive behavior; intervene at an early stage to avoid the possibility of progression toward more serious offenses and help the teen avoid the negative connotations associated with a formal referral to juvenile court.
Once a juvenile is referred to the Youth Diversion Program, a panel of trained community volunteers will meet with the juvenile and his or her parents or guardian. The panel will conduct a conference and hear the facts of the juvenile's case. The panel will then determine the appropriate consequences, and execute a signed agreement for participation in the program. If the youth successfully completes the program, the case will be dismissed, and the juvenile will not have a delinquency record. If the juvenile does not successfully complete the program or voluntarily withdraws from the program, the case will go to court for prosecution.
In order to participate in the Youth Diversion Program, the juvenile must be willing to admit to the offense(s) in which he or she was charged. It is important to understand that this is NOT a formal admission of guilt on the record. This is simply an opportunity for the juvenile to take responsibility for his or her actions and acknowledge the need to move in a more positive direction.
A juvenile's participation in the Youth Diversion Program is voluntary. If the juvenile chooses not to participate in the program, the case will go forward through the court system. It is important to understand the juvenile has the right to deny the charge and have his or her case heard formally before Gwinnett County Juvenile Court.
| Stephanie Morrison |
| Youth Diversion Program Coordinator |
| Phone: (770) 619-6361 |
Important Information
Email Policy:
- Each parent / guardian and child will need to provide the program coordinator, Stephanie Morrison, with a working email address.
- If you have questions or concerns regarding your case / action plan, please contact Stephanie Morrison at the following email address: stephanie.morrison@gwinnettcounty.com
- Please do not use voicemail.
Directions for Community Service Time Sheet:
- Please take the time sheet to the location in which you complete your ordered hours. Make sure the work supervisor logs your hours each time you work.
- Make sure the location is a non-profit organization.
- Make a copy of your time sheet upon completion of your hours for your records. This will ensure you do not have to repeat the hours if your timesheet is lost or misplaced.
- Please mail or email the time sheet to the below listed address.
Directions for fee payment:
- You may pay in person (cash, money order or cashier's check) at Gwinnett County Juvenile Court.
- You may mail your payment to Gwinnett County Juvenile Court (see below address). If you mail your payment, you must send a cashier's check or money order. Do not send a personal check or cash.
| Please mail all documents and payment to: |
| Gwinnett County Juvenile Court Attn: Stephanie Morrison 115 Stone Mountain St. Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046 |
| If you have any questions please email the program coordinator at: stephanie.morrison@gwinnettcounty.com |
What is diversion?
What are the differences between diversion and court?
What if I do not want to go through diversion?
Can I get a copy of my arrest report?
Do I have to have a lawyer to go through diversion?
Who will be at my Diversion meeting?
Do my parents have to come with me to my diversion meeting?
What will happen at my diversion meeting?
How long will the diversion meeting take?
What happens after my diversion meeting?
What if my parents have already punished me?
Who will know about my diversion?
Documents & Forms
