Many juvenile courts have formal and informal diversion through the district attorney’s office or probation department. Many probation departments will request to interview the minor prior to requesting charges be filed. If you and your child proceed to be interviewed without an attorney the consequences can be problematic. Certain words by your child to a probation officer can be taken out of context during the interview and later used against your child in juvenile court. Also, some juvenile diversion programs are worse than the consequences of formally fighting the charges in juvenile court. Knowing your options is key to ensuring the best outcome for your child.