06-001 Code Vt. R. 06-020-001-X
A Diversion Review Board is a group of citizens who volunteer their time to review applications and to design and oversee the contracts for individual diversion program clients in their county.
Each Diversion Review Board should include at least ten members, at least one of whom is a person chosen by the Sponsoring Agency to represent the Agency on the board unless the Sponsoring Agency elects not to be represented.
If there are two or more Diversion Review Boards within one local court diversion program, they must agree to share the same Sponsoring Agency and Diversion Program Director.
A Sponsoring Agency is an incorporated non-profit organization that applies for and receives money with which to operate a local court diversion program.
A diversion program can be its own Sponsoring Agency if it chooses to incorporate and apply for and receive funds. Otherwise, an incorporated non-profit organization must be located and selected to serve as sponsor.
Each local diversion program shall develop by-laws and policies relating to its membership, its operations, and its clients. These policies must be mutually acceptable to the Diversion Review Board and the Sponsoring Agency. The Diversion Review Board may establish the policy of allowing the Sponsoring Agency to set any or all policies.
Each Sponsoring Agency shall be considered by the Attorney General to be officially accountable for the proper expenditure of State funds allocated to the local court diversion program.
The Diversion Program Director is the chief staff person hired by a Diversion Review Board and Sponsoring Agency to carry out the policies of the program.
Each Program Director shall meet the qualifications and perform the duties outlined in the Diversion Program Director's job description as approved by the Attorney General and the Vermont Association of Court Diversion Programs, Inc.
Each Diversion Program Director shall be paid compensation (including benefits) within a range commensurate with the State paygrade scale for positions of comparable responsibility in State government.
The Diversion Program Director shall account for his/her time and job performance to the Sponsoring Agency and shall otherwise conform with the personnel policies of the Sponsoring Agency.
Communications specific to the affairs of a local court diversion program shall be intitated [initiated] through contact with the local Program Director. Communications of a more general nature such as the coordination of administrative details on a statewide basis, shall be facilitated by the Chairperson of the Vermont Association of Court Diversion Programs, Inc.
In accordance with 3 V.S.A. 163(c) and 164(c): "The diversion project shall only accept persons against whom charges have been filed and the court has found probable cause, but are not yet adjudicated."
All persons who are so charged and whose case otherwise complies with local program eligibility criteria as outlined in 3 V.S.A. 163(c)(4) and 164(c)(4), and who are referred for consideration by the local prosecutor shall be considered to be Diversion Program Clients.
All Diversion Program Clients who are eligible under 3 V.S.A. 164(c) (4) and who elect to participate in the program shall pay a fee to the local Adult Court Diversion Program. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the project officers or employees based upon the financial capabilities of the participant. The fee shall not exceed $ 100.00. The fee shall be a debt due from the participant, but shall not be grounds for exclusion from participation in the program. Fees under this subsection shall be paid to the State of Vermont and shall be used solely for the purpose of the Adult Court Diversion Program. Annually, the director of each Court Diversion Program shall report to the Attorney General on all fees paid under this subsection.
These records shall be kept for a minimum of three (3) years and shall include for each Diversion Program Client:
06-001 Code Vt. R. 06-020-001-X