Maybe it was in a letter from juvenile court. Maybe an officer said it on the night of the arrest. Your child may be eligible for “diversion.” It sounds hopeful, but nobody explains what it actually means. Is it a program, a deal, or a second chance?
For many families, diversion is the best outcome a juvenile case can have. A child who completes it can often avoid a formal court record entirely. But Franklin County juvenile diversion is not one program. It is a network of court, police, and city programs, and each works differently.
This guide explains how a juvenile diversion program works in Franklin County, who qualifies, and what it means for your child’s record. If your child was just arrested, start with our parent’s guide to Franklin County juvenile court.
What Is Juvenile Diversion?
Juvenile diversion is a way to resolve a case outside the formal court process. Instead of going through hearings and a possible finding of delinquency, the child completes a program. That might include counseling, community service, restitution, or a meeting with the victim. If the child finishes, the case typically ends without a delinquency record.
Diversion can happen at two points. It can happen before a formal complaint is filed, which is the most common route. It can also happen after charges are filed, when the court or prosecutor agrees to step back. That second route is sometimes called juvenile court diversion.
In 2025, the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Task Force on Juvenile Diversion released its final report. It found that roughly 75% or more of juvenile diversion happens before a child’s first court appearance. The task force also urged courts to put their diversion practices in writing and report them publicly.
Franklin County Juvenile Diversion Programs
Most local programs run through the court’s Youth Education & Intervention Services (YEIS) department at 399 South Front Street. Each program targets a different kind of case.
| Program | Who It Is For | What It Involves |
| Police-Initiated Diversion | Youth referred by participating police departments | Informal referral to support services with light case management |
| General Diversion | Misdemeanor cases | Assessment, then referral to community or court programs |
| Teen Court | Misdemeanor cases | An alternative to formal court focused on accountability and education |
| Community Restorative Circles | Youth 11 to 17 who admit involvement | A plan agreed with the victim, family, and community volunteers |
| Forum Program | Second-time property or ordinance misdemeanors | Psychological screening and referral to treatment programs |
| Truancy Diversion | Youth charged with habitual truancy | Counseling and services that address attendance problems |
| Unruly Youth Services | Home conflict and unruly behavior | Behavioral and mental health assessments with service referrals |
| Juvenile Felony Diversion | First-time, low-level felony cases | A 90-day program ending in dismissal, sealing, and expungement |
Truancy rules recently changed. Ohio House Bill 96 took effect on September 30, 2025. Under it, schools must adopt new attendance policies with their county juvenile court by August 1, 2026. Three of these programs deserve a closer look.
Police-Initiated Diversion in Columbus
Under the Columbus Division of Police directive on juveniles, officers screen some arrested youth for diversion right away. Screening happens when a child is sent to the county’s reception center rather than detention. A child taken to the detention center is not eligible. Otherwise, a child may qualify when:
- The charges are misdemeanors: Felony charges are not eligible for this program.
- There is no felony history: The child has no previous felony adjudications.
- The charge is not excluded: Domestic violence, status offenses, and traffic charges, including OVI, do not qualify.
- There are no active warrants: An open warrant disqualifies the child.
- The child lives in Franklin County: Residents of other counties are not eligible.
Community Restorative Circles
This program brings the child, parents, trained community volunteers, and, when there is one, the victim together. The group discusses what happened and writes a plan the child must complete. Referrals come from a juvenile court magistrate or the court’s intake and diversion staff. A child can take part when:
- Age fits: The child was between 11 and 17 at the time of the offense.
- The child admits involvement: The program requires an acknowledgment of what happened.
- A parent consents: Parents must also attend the first appearance and every circle meeting.
The plan can include an apology, community service, a research paper on the law that was broken, or an essay. Plans can take up to 90 days to finish. According to the court, completing the program can mean the child has no formal court record.
The Juvenile Felony Diversion Program
This is the newest local option. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the juvenile court launched it in September 2025 as a one-year pilot. It extended diversion to certain low-level felony cases.
The program targets first-time cases with $500 or less in restitution, and victims receive that restitution up front. Eligible offenses include:
- Theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Breaking and entering
- Vandalism
- Drug possession
Both the prosecutor and the victim must agree to diversion. Repeat or dangerous offenders, weapons cases, and certain serious offenses are excluded. The program lasts 90 days. According to the prosecutor’s announcement, successful completion means the case is dismissed, sealed, and expunged.
By the end of 2025, 28 youth had been referred, and nine had already finished. Because it began as a pilot, ask whether it is still accepting cases when your child’s case is reviewed.
Diversion Programs in Columbus Suburbs
Some suburbs run their own programs alongside the county court.
Upper Arlington handles first-time juvenile offenders through its own diversion program. A juvenile detective reviews eligibility, and a referee presides over a “Diversion Court.” Parents must participate fully. A child who completes it has the charge dismissed, while one who does not comply can face formal charges. Families can also leave the program and ask for a trial.
Dublin offers juvenile diversion as well. After a child completes it, the family can apply to Dublin Mayor’s Court to seal the records, with approval from the city prosecutor. Other cities set their own rules, so ask the arresting department what it offers.
Who Qualifies for Juvenile Diversion?
Diversion is not a right. Police, prosecutors, and the court decide who is offered it, and in some programs the victim has a say. Across programs, the same factors tend to matter:
- Prior record: Most programs favor first-time or limited contact with the court.
- Level of the offense: Misdemeanors are the core of diversion, and felony options are narrow.
- Acknowledgment: Some programs require the child to admit involvement before entering.
- Family involvement: Parents are usually expected to consent and take part.
- The victim’s position: Victims have rights in the process, and some programs require their agreement.
- Where the child lives: Some programs only accept Franklin County residents.
Common juvenile charges like shoplifting, disorderly conduct, and low-level drug possession can be good candidates for Franklin County juvenile diversion.
What Diversion Means for Your Child’s Record
Diversion’s biggest promise is a clean record. Whether that happens on its own depends on when the diversion took place.
| Situation | What Happens to the Record |
| Resolved before a complaint was filed | The court must seal the records right away |
| Complaint filed, then dismissed after diversion | Depends on the program, so confirm whether sealing is automatic |
| Program not completed | The case returns to the formal court process |
The first row comes straight from Ohio Revised Code 2151.356, which requires immediate sealing when a case is resolved without a complaint. In the second situation, some programs, like felony diversion, promise sealing and expungement. Others may leave a step for the family.
For the general rules on clearing a juvenile record, see the records section of our juvenile court guide. For how sealing works at the state level, The Meade Law Group explains the expungement process in Ohio.
What Happens If Your Child Does Not Finish the Program
The case goes back to court. In the felony program, for example, an unfinished program means the case is reactivated and handled the traditional way.
That can leave a child worse off than before. If the program required an admission, the child has already acknowledged involvement. Choosing a program your child can realistically complete matters as much as getting into one.
Is Diversion Always the Right Choice?
Usually, it is a strong outcome. But not always.
If the evidence is weak, fighting the charge may lead to a dismissal with no program and no conditions at all. That is a judgment call, and it should be made after a lawyer reviews the case.
The benefits:
- No delinquency record in most completed cases.
- A faster resolution than a full court case.
- Proven results: The court reports a 73% overall success rate for its diversion programs.
- Lower repeat rates: More than 70% of participants in its misdemeanor program have not reoffended.
The trade-offs:
- Admissions: Some programs require the child to acknowledge involvement.
- Obligations: Deadlines, classes, community service, or restitution must be met.
- Family time: Parents often have to attend meetings and supervise progress.
Before You Agree to Diversion: What Parents Should Do
A few careful steps protect the benefit diversion is supposed to give:
- Identify the program: Ask which program is being offered and whether a complaint has already been filed.
- Ask about the record: Find out whether sealing will be automatic or whether you must apply afterward.
- Get a lawyer’s review first: Have the evidence reviewed before your child admits anything.
- Write down every requirement: Note each deadline, class, payment, and meeting.
- Keep proof of completion: Save certificates and restitution receipts, then confirm the record was actually sealed.
Talk to Marcus A. Ross Law About Diversion for Your Child
Diversion decisions happen early, often before a family knows its options. Marcus A. Ross began his career in 1997 as an Assistant City Prosecutor in Columbus. He knows how prosecutors weigh a diversion request.
At Marcus A. Ross Law, our team helps families make the most of this opportunity:
- Eligibility review: Identifying which programs fit your child’s case.
- Requesting diversion: Making the case to the prosecutor or court for a diversion referral.
- Evidence review: Deciding whether diversion or a defense is the better path before any admission.
- Record follow-up: Making sure the record is sealed once the program is complete.
Contact Marcus A. Ross and our Franklin County team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
| Can a child get diversion more than once? | Sometimes. Most programs favor first-time cases, but Franklin County’s Forum Program is designed for second-time property and ordinance misdemeanors. Each new case is reviewed on its own. |
| Is diversion available for a juvenile OVI? | Not through the Columbus police program. Its rules exclude traffic charges, including OVI. Other options depend on the court and prosecutor handling the case. |
| Is diversion possible in a juvenile domestic violence case? | Not through Columbus police-initiated diversion, which excludes domestic violence charges. Whether another program is available is up to the prosecutor and the court. |
| Can a family ask for diversion? | Not directly. A family cannot simply enroll a child in a program. A defense attorney, however, can ask the prosecutor or the court to consider a diversion referral. |
| Is juvenile diversion the same as intervention instead of conviction? | No. Intervention instead of conviction is an adult court program, often used in drug cases. Our guide to sealing drug charges in Franklin County covers how it works. |