2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 18 - CRIMINAL CODE (§§ 18-1-101 — 18-26-102) › Article 1.3 - SENTENCING IN CRIMINAL CASES (§§ 18-1.3-101 — 18-1.3-1407) › Part 1 - ALTERNATIVES IN SENTENCING (§§ 18-1.3-101 — 18-1.3-107) › Section 18-1.3-101 - Pretrial diversion - appropriation - repeal

(1)
(a)
Legislative intent.
The intent of this section is to facilitate and encourage the diversion of defendants and defendants with behavioral health disorders, referred to collectively in this section as "defendants", from the criminal justice system when diversion may prevent such defendants from committing additional criminal acts, restore victims of crime, facilitate the defendant's ability to pay restitution to victims of crime, and reduce the number of cases in the criminal justice system. Diversion should ensure defendant accountability while allowing defendants to avoid the collateral consequences associated with criminal charges and convictions. In addition, diversion programs shall consider individuals with behavioral health disorders who are eligible for diversion pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and divert such individuals out of the criminal justice system and into community treatment programs.
(b)
A district attorney's office may develop or continue to operate its own diversion program that is not subject to the provisions of this section. If a district attorney's office accepts state money to create or operate a diversion program pursuant to this section, the district attorney's office must comply with the provisions of this section.
(2)
Period of diversion.
In any case, either before or after charges are filed, the district attorney may suspend prosecution of the offense for a period not to exceed two years. The period of diversion may be extended for an additional time up to one year if the failure to pay restitution is the sole condition of diversion that has not been fulfilled, because of inability to pay, and the defendant has a future ability to pay. During the period of diversion the defendant may be placed under the supervision of the probation department or a diversion program approved by the district attorney.
(3)
Guidelines for eligibility.
Each district attorney that uses state money for a diversion program pursuant to this section shall adopt policies and guidelines delineating eligibility criteria for pretrial diversion, including types and levels of offenses so long as those offenses are consistent with subsections (5) to (7) of this section, and may agree to diversion in any case in which there exists sufficient admissible evidence to support a conviction. In determining whether an individual is appropriate for diversion, the district attorney shall consider:
(a)
The nature of the crime charged and the circumstances surrounding it;
(b)
Any special characteristics or circumstances of the defendant, which may include whether the defendant has a mental health or other behavioral health disorder or whether the defendant is a pregnant or postpartum defendant, as defined in section
18-1.3-103.7
;
(c)
Whether diversion is consistent with the defendant's rehabilitation and reintegration; and
(d)
Whether the public interest will be best served by diverting the individual from prosecution.
(4)
Before entering into a pretrial diversion agreement, the district attorney may require a defendant to provide information regarding prior criminal charges, education and work experience, family, residence in the community, and other information relating to the diversion program. The defendant shall not be denied the opportunity to consult with legal counsel before consenting to diversion. Legal counsel may be appointed as provided under article
1
of title
21
, C.R.S.
(5)
In a jurisdiction that receives state moneys for the creation or operation of diversion programs pursuant to this section, an individual accused of an offense, the underlying factual basis of which involves domestic violence as defined in section
18-6-800.3 (1)
, is not eligible for pretrial diversion unless charges have been filed, the individual has had an opportunity to consult with counsel, and the individual has completed a domestic violence treatment evaluation, which includes the use of a domestic violence risk assessment instrument, conducted by a domestic violence treatment provider approved by the domestic violence offender management board as required by section
16-11.8-103 (4)
, C.R.S. The district attorney may agree to place the individual in the diversion program established by the district attorney pursuant to this section if he or she finds that, based on the results of that evaluation and the other factors in subsection (3) of this section, the individual is appropriate for the program.
(6)
In a jurisdiction that receives state moneys for the creation or operation of diversion programs pursuant to this section, an individual accused of a sex offense as defined in section
18-1.3-1003 (5)
is not eligible for pretrial diversion unless charges have been filed and, after the individual has had an opportunity to consult with counsel, the individual has completed a sex-offense-specific evaluation, which includes the use of a sex-offense-specific risk assessment instrument, conducted by an evaluator approved by the sex offender management board as required by section
16-11.7-103 (4)
. The district attorney may agree to place the individual in the diversion program established by the district attorney pursuant to this section if he or she finds that, based on the results of that evaluation and the other factors in subsection (3) of this section, the individual is appropriate for the program. Notwithstanding that a successfully completed diversion agreement does not constitute a history of sex offenses for purposes of sections
16-11.7-102 (2)(a)(II)
,
16-11.7-102 (2)(a)(IV)(C)
, and
16-22-103 (2)(d)
, the information constituting the crimes charged and facts alleged shall be available for use by a court, district attorney, any law enforcement agency, or agency of the state judicial department, if otherwise permitted by law, in any subsequent criminal investigation, prosecution, risk or needs assessment evaluation, sentencing hearing, or during a probation or parole supervision period.
(7)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an individual accused of any of the following sexual offenses is not eligible for participation in a diversion program established in a jurisdiction that receives state moneys for the creation or operation of diversion programs pursuant to this section:
(a)
Sexual assault as described in section
18-3-402
;
(b)
Sexual assault on a child as described in section
18-3-405
;
(c)
Any sexual offense committed against an at-risk adult or an at-risk juvenile, as defined in section
18-6.5-102 (2) and (4)
;
(d)
Any sexual offense committed with the use of a deadly weapon as described in section
18-1-901 (3)(e)
;
(e)
Enticement of a child, as described in section
18-3-305
;
(f)
Sexual exploitation of a child as described in section
18-6-403
;
(g)
Procurement of a child for exploitation, as described in section
18-6-404
;
(h)
Sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, as described in section
18-3-405.3
; or
(i)
Any child prostitution offense in part 4 of article
7
of this title.
(8)
Diversion programs may include, but are not limited to, programs operated by law enforcement upon agreement with a district attorney, district attorney internally operated programs, programs operated by other approved agencies, restorative justice programs, or supervision by the probation department. References to "deferred prosecution" in Colorado statutes and court rules shall apply to pretrial diversion as authorized by this section.
(9)
Diversion agreements.
(a)
All pretrial diversions are governed by the terms of an individualized diversion agreement signed by the defendant, the defendant's attorney if the defendant is represented by an attorney, and the district attorney.
(b)
The diversion agreement must include a written waiver of the right to a speedy trial for the period of the diversion. All diversion agreements must include a condition that the defendant not commit any criminal offense during the period of the agreement. Diversion agreements may also include provisions, agreed to by the defendant, concerning payment of restitution and court costs, payment of a supervision fee not to exceed that provided for in section
18-1.3-204 (2)(a)(V)
, participation in restorative justice practices as defined in section
18-1-901 (3)
(o.5), or an agreement to receive treatment, for any of the defendant's behavioral health disorders. Any pretrial diversion supervision fees collected may be retained by the district attorney for purposes of funding its adult pretrial diversion program. The conditions of diversion are limited to those specific to the individual defendant or necessary for proper supervision of the individual defendant. A diversion agreement must provide that if the defendant fulfills the obligations described therein, the court shall order all criminal charges filed against the defendant dismissed with prejudice.
(c)
The diversion agreement may require an assessment of the defendant's criminogenic and behavioral health needs, to be performed after the period of diversion has begun by either the probation department, diversion program, or community treatment program approved by the district attorney. Based on the results of that assessment, the probation department or approved diversion or community treatment program may direct the defendant to participate in programs offering medical, therapeutic, behavioral health, educational, vocational, corrective, preventive, or other rehabilitative services. Defendants with the ability to pay may be required to pay for such programs or services.
(d)
The diversion agreement may include a statement of the facts the charge is based upon authored by the defendant and agreed to by the defendant's attorney if the defendant is represented by an attorney and the district attorney. The statement is admissible as impeachment evidence against the defendant in the criminal proceedings if the defendant fails to fulfill the terms of the diversion agreement and criminal proceedings are resumed.
(e)
A defendant shall not be required to enter any plea to a criminal charge as a condition of pretrial diversion. A defendant's or counsel's statement in a diversion conference or in any other discussion of a proposed diversion agreement, including an evaluation performed pursuant to subsections (5) and (6) of this section, other than a statement provided for in paragraph (d) of this subsection (9), shall not be admissible as evidence in criminal proceedings on the crimes charged or facts alleged.
(f)
If the district attorney agrees to offer diversion in lieu of further criminal proceedings and the defendant agrees to all of the terms of the proposed agreement, the diversion agreement may be either filed with the court or held by the parties. A court filing shall be required only if the probation department supervises the defendant. When a diversion agreement is reached, the court shall stay further proceedings.
(g)
If a defendant's competency to proceed is raised pursuant to section 16-8.5-102 or a defendant is found incompetent to proceed pursuant to section 16-8.5-103, the following apply:
(I)
The defendant may 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;
(II)
Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) of this section, the defendant's entrance into a diversion agreement constitutes a waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial for the period of diversion pursuant to section 18-1-405 (6) regardless of whether a written waiver is completed; and
(III)
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.
(10)
Diversion outcomes.
(a)
During the period of diversion, the supervising program or agency designated in the diversion agreement shall provide the level of supervision necessary to facilitate rehabilitation and ensure the defendant is completing the terms of the diversion agreement.
(b)
Upon the defendant's satisfactory completion of and discharge from supervision, the court shall dismiss with prejudice all charges against the defendant. The effect of the dismissal is to restore the defendant to the status he or she occupied before the arrest, citation, or summons. A successfully completed diversion agreement shall not be considered a conviction for any purpose. A person with an order of dismissal entered pursuant to this article may not be subject to charge, prosecution, or liability under Colorado law of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement by reason of his or her failure to recite or acknowledge the arrest, citation, or summons in response to any inquiry made for any purpose.
(c)
At any point after a diversion agreement is completed, the court shall seal all arrest and other criminal records pertaining to the offense using the procedure described in sections
24-72-704
and
24-72-705
.
(d)
If the defendant violates the conditions of the diversion agreement, the supervising entity shall provide written notice of the violation to the defendant, the district attorney, and the court. The district attorney, in his or her sole discretion, may initiate revocation of a diversion agreement by the filing of a criminal complaint, information, or indictment, or if charges have already been filed, by giving the court notice of intent to proceed with the prosecution. The defendant may, within fourteen days after the first court appearance following such a filing, request a hearing to contest whether a violation occurred. The district attorney has the burden by a preponderance of the evidence to show that a violation has in fact occurred, and the procedural safeguards required in a revocation of probation hearing pursuant to section
16-11-206
, C.R.S., shall apply. The court may, when it appears that the alleged violation of the diversion agreement is a pending criminal offense against the defendant, continue the diversion revocation hearing until the completion of the criminal proceeding. If the court finds a violation has occurred, or a hearing is not requested, the prosecution may continue. If the court finds the district attorney has not proven a violation, the court shall dismiss the criminal case without prejudice and return the defendant to the supervision of the diversion program to complete the terms of the agreement.
(e)
If a defendant is prosecuted following a violation of a diversion agreement, a factual statement entered pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of this section is admissible as impeachment evidence. Any other information concerning diversion, including participation in a diversion program, including an evaluation performed pursuant to subsections (5) and (6) of this section, the terms of a diversion agreement, or statements made to treatment providers during a diversion program, shall not be admitted into evidence at trial for any purpose.
(f)
(I)
Upon completion of diversion in a case managed by a district attorney diversion program prior to charges being filed, the district attorney shall seal the district attorney's diversion record without a court order. This subsection (10)(f) does not apply to cases with offenses listed in section
24-4.1-302 (1)
.
(II)
The district attorney shall notify the Colorado bureau of investigation and the law enforcement agency that had contact with the individual that diversion is complete and the criminal justice records are sealed. Any law enforcement agency that receives a notice shall acknowledge receipt of the notice. The Colorado bureau of investigation, law enforcement agency, diversion provider, and district attorney shall treat the records as sealed within thirty-five days after the completion of diversion, and all provisions of section
24-72-703
shall apply to those records.
(11)
(a)
For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate four million dollars from the behavioral and mental health cash fund created in section
24-75-230
to the judicial department for pretrial diversion programs. Any unexpended or unencumbered money appropriated pursuant to this subsection (11) remains available for expenditure until December 31, 2026, for the same purpose without further appropriation and the department shall obligate and spend the money in accordance with section 24-75-226 (4)(d). The judicial department may use up to five percent of the money appropriated pursuant to this section for administrative expenses. The judicial department shall allocate one million eight hundred thousand dollars of the money appropriated pursuant to this subsection (11) to recipients that provide diversion for individuals with behavioral health disorders.
(b)
This subsection (11) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 257,§ 3, eff. 5/24/2024.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 30,§ 2, eff. 3/22/2024.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 246,§ 5, eff. 8/7/2023.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 349,§ 7, eff. 6/5/2023.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 276, § 4, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 147, § 1, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 193, § 4, eff. 5/19/2022.
Amended by 2019 Ch. 295, § 2, eff. 8/2/2019.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 210, § 28, eff. 6/6/2016.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 317, § 1, eff. 8/1/2014.
Repealed and reenacted with amendments by 2013 Ch. 336, § 1, eff. 8/7/2013.
2023 Ch. 246, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).