Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu
SB24-006

Pretrial Diversion Programs

Concerning considering factors related to the capability to participate in the judicial process in determining whether to place a person into a pretrial diversion program.
Session:
2024 Regular Session
Subjects:
Courts & Judicial
Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
Human Services
Bill Summary

The act requires a district attorney's office, or the office's designee, to consider the use of a juvenile diversion program (program) to prevent a juvenile who demonstrates behaviors or symptoms consistent with an intellectual and developmental disability, a mental or behavioral health issue, or a lack of mental capacity from further involvement in formal delinquency proceedings.

Current law allows programs to use the results of an approved and validated assessment tool to identify the appropriate diversion services a juvenile may need and the professionals who may provide the services. The act adds behavioral health services and services for juveniles with developmental disabilities to the types of services a juvenile may need and adds behavioral health treatment providers and providers who offer services to juveniles with developmental disabilities to the list of professionals who may provide the appropriate diversion services.

If an adult defendant's competency is raised or a defendant is found incompetent to proceed, the act allows the defendant to enter into a diversion agreement with the consent of the district attorney and the court if the court finds that the defendant has the ability to participate and is advised of the potential consequences of failure to comply. The defendant's entrance into the diversion agreement does not waive the issue of competency to stand trial if there is a violation of the diversion agreement and proceedings on the charges resume. The diversion agreement alone is not evidence of competency.

APPROVED by Governor March 22, 2024

EFFECTIVE March 22, 2024
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status

Introduced
Passed
Became Law

Menu

Bill Text

  • All Versions (7 )
    Date Bill Type Documents
    03/22/2024 Signed Act PDF
    03/21/2024 Final Act PDF
    03/15/2024 Rerevised PDF
    03/13/2024 Revised PDF
    02/15/2024 Reengrossed PDF
    02/14/2024 Engrossed PDF
    01/10/2024 Introduced PDF

The 2024 Statewide Ballot Information Booklet is now online