The Intake/Diversion Unit of the Mohave County Probation Department is tasked with the responsibility of reviewing all juvenile referrals submitted by law enforcement.

The Intake Unit works closely with the Mohave County Attorney’s Office to identify the low-level and low-risk youth for participation in the Diversion Program. Diversion serves as a means to redirect many first-time justice-involved youths from the juvenile court process while remaining focused on community protection and still holding the juvenile accountable for their actions. Probation Officers in the Intake Unit work diligently with the families to assess the juvenile’s risk to the community and assign educational consequences.

Juveniles may also be referred to local treatment options when appropriate. Programs offered through the probation department include Teen Law School, Teen Court, online drug and alcohol classes, shoplifting classes, and workbooks that require family participation.

For juveniles not diverted from the juvenile justice system, Intake Officers are required to write a report to aid the Court in deciding the disposition of a case. Juveniles can be placed on Standard Probation, Juvenile Intensive Probation (JIPS), or be committed to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.

Prop 207 Referrals

If I have been charged with marijuana related offenses as a juvenile, they are likely going to be dealt with through the probation department with an intake officer. During this process fines and/or educational classes may be assessed.

Teen Court

The idea for Teen Court originated in Odessa, Texas in 1972 when a judge decided to implement a program to try and reach first-time justice-involved individuals of misdemeanor offenses. The program proved to be successful and began spreading throughout the United States based on the Texas model.

To be eligible for Teen Court, the juvenile must be between the ages of 14-17. Each teen must admit guilt to the offense for which they have been charged. They must also be willing to complete the interventions assigned by the jury. All participants in the courtroom are teens except for the judge. Teen Court works because teens are judging other teens.  With Teen Court, positive peer pressure is the underlying motivational factor.

The most common offenses referred to Teen Court are shoplifting, criminal trespass, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, minor consumption of alcohol.

Interventions imposed by Teen Court include Community Restitution Service, essays, counseling, jury duty, Life Skills, classes, monetary fines, apology letters, education programs such as “Stoplifting” and "Marijuana 101".

Teen Court is held twice a month in the evenings in Lake Havasu City. For more information, you may contact the Lake Havasu City office at (928) 453-0707