Diversionary Prosecution

Gila River Indian Community Ordinance GR-03-13, § 405, § 406 & GR-97-13, § 5.401, Rule 33.

Tribe: Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation

5.405. Diversionary Prosecution. A. Except where prohibited by this title, a judge shall have the discretion in sentencing a defendant charged with a misdemeanor offense to accept a defendant’s plea of guilt and defer entering the plea into the record and defer imposition of sentence for a specified time upon the condition of the defendant successfully completing drug and/or alcohol treatment, and/or any other appropriate conditions that promote rehabilitation. B. A defendant is not eligible for diversion if he: 1. Has been previously charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense 111 any jurisdiction, regardless of whether the conviction was expunged; or 2. Has previously been granted or completed diversion. C. Defendants ordered to diversion shall be monitored by the Probation Department and shall be subject to random urinalysis tests. D. At any time after the defendant has satisfactorily completed one-half of the original diversion period, the defendant may petition the court to reduce or terminate the supervision if the defendant proves successful completion of the stated condition(s). Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the diversion condition(s), including no subsequent criminal charges
against the defendant while on diversion, a judge shall dismiss the offense.
E. If the defendant fails to successfully complete the stated condition(s) a judge shall
enter the defendant’s plea of guilt into the record and sentence the defendant pursuant to this
title. The defendant shall be entitled to a hearing limited to the scope of whether, by
preponderance of the evidence, the defendant violated a diversion condition or has been charged
with subsequent criminal charges. A judge may receive any reliable evidence not legally
privileged. Hearsay is admissible. The hearing need not be a formal, “trial type” hearing and the
rules of evidence need not be observed. […] 5.406. Probation.
A. At sentencing a judge shall have the discretion in sentencing, except where
prohibited by this title, to suspend a convicted offender’s sentence of imprisonment, and release
the offender on probation. The offender shall sign a probationary pledge which specifically
states the terms and conditions of probation.
B. The terms of probation must include services or programs to promote
rehabilitation.

  1. A j udge may order successful completion of a court approved drug and/or alcohol
    treatment; programming or classes for domestic violence; programming or classes
    for anger management; programming or classes for parenting; programming or
    classes offered by Mothers Against Drunk Driving; successful compliance with
    mental health treatment; community service; restitution; or any other reasonable
    terms a j udge finds appropriate.
  2. A j udge may modify an order of probation to allow a probationer to be excused
    from checking in with the probation officer for the spec ified time while the
    probationer is off Reservation while enrolled and physically attending an inpatient
    treatment program.
    C. Special Conditions of Probation for Offenders Convicted of an Offense Involving
    Domestic Violence; Required Reports by Probation Department.
  3. Before placing an offender who is convicted of a crime involving domestic
    violence on probation, the judge shall consider the safety and protection of the
    victim of domestic violence.
  4. The judge may condition the granting of probation to an offender on any
    reasonable condition the judge finds appropriate or on any of the following
    conditions: a. Enjoining the offender from threatening to commit or committing acts of
    domestic violence against the victim or other family or household member
    as described in Section 5.71 0.B, Domestic Violence;
    b. Prohibiting the offender from harassing, annoying, telephoning,
    contacting, or otherwise communicating with the victim, directly or
    indirectly through family, relations by marriage, friends, or co-workers;
    c. Requiring the offender to stay away from the residence, school, place of
    employment, or any specified place frequented regularly by the victim or
    any designated family or household member as described in Section
    5.7 1 0.B, Domestic Violence;
    d. Prohibiting the offender from possessing or consuming alcohol or
    controlled substances;
    e. Prohibiting the offender from possessing a firearm or other specified
    weapon;
    f. Directing the offender to surrender any weapons owned or possessed by
    the offender; and/or
    g. Directing the offender to refrain from any violations of law for the
    duration of probation.
  5. Any probation that a judge may order as a condition of sentencing shall be
    supervised probation with the Probation Department.
  6. The Probation Department shall document and report to the Community Court
    any violations of law, any assaults by the probationer, any threats of harm made
    by the probationer, and any fai lure by the probationer to comply with any
    condition imposed by the court or Probation Department, regardless of where the
    violation occurred or under what j urisdiction the crime was adj udicated. Such a
    violation shall be deemed as constituting non-compliance with probation
    conditions and is subject to revocation under Section 5.406.0.
    D. If a prosecutor or probation officer has reasonable cause to believe that a
    probationer has violated a written condition of probation imposed by the court, the prosecutor or
    probation officer may petition the court to revoke probation.
  7. After a petition to revoke has been filed the court shall issue a summons directing
    the probationer to appear on a speci fied date and time to arraign the probationer
    on the petition to revoke probation.
  8. Unless a warrant is requested by the probation officer or the prosecutor, the court
    should issue a summons for the probationer. 3. The filing of a petition to revoke probation shall automatically stay the term of
    probation, during which the court shall retain jurisdiction.
    E. If a probationer has been found guilty of a subsequent criminal offense by a judge or judicial officer of any jurisdiction, no petition to revoke probation shall be required. A judge
    may set the probation matter for disposition hearing within a reasonable amount of time after the
    determination of guilt of a subsequent criminal offense.
    F. A probationer shall be arraigned on a petition to revoke probation and shall be
    informed of each alleged violation of probation, and the probationer shall admit or deny each
    allegation. If no admission is made or if an admission is not accepted, the court shall set a
    probation violation hearing.
    G. A probation violation hearing to determine whether a probationer has violated a
    written condition of probation shall be held before the court on the petition to revoke probation.
    H. A disposition hearing shall be held after an admission by the probationer or a
    j udicial finding that a probationer has violated a condition or regulation of probation.
  9. A judge may reinstate the probationer to the sentence of probation, may order the
    probationer to serve out the remainder of the sentence by incarceration, or may
    impose some other sentencing option provided for in this chapter, so long as the
    time period does not exceed the original sentence.
  10. Time will be tolled from the date of the violation, any time the defendant
    absconded, or any time a warrant is issued. Time tolled is not counted as days
    served on probation and may be served in jail or by reinstated sentence of
    probation.
    I. The judge shall have the discretion to impose a term of probation for as long as
    necessary to address any issues that may have contributed to the conviction, provided however,
    that the length of the probationary period for each offense shall not exceed the maximum time
    per offense as permitted under this title. […]
    J. All persons placed under the supervision of probation shall be ordered to pay
    reasonable probation fees, costs and expenses, which shall be recommended by the court and
    approved by the Community Council.
    K. The duties of probation officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
  11. Make investigations, reports, and recommendations to the court as required by a
    judge;
  12. Receive under supervision any person sentenced to probation; 3. Provide release assistance, and supervise any person placed on probation or in a
    diversion, work release or community service;
  13. Give each person under their supervision a statement of the conditions of
    probation and i nstruct the person regarding the conditions;
  14. Keep i nformed concerning the conduct and condition of persons under their
    supervision by requiring visits, reports, or otherwise;
  15. Use all suitable methods, not inconsistent with the condition of probation or
    program participation, to aid and encourage persons under their supervision and to
    effect improvement in their conduct and condition;
  16. Keep detailed records of the work done and to make reports to the court as
    required; and/or
  17. Perform other duties not inconsistent with the normal and customary functions of
    probation officers as may be ordered and authorized by the court.
    L. Failure to satisfy any time frames provided in this section will not be grounds for
    dismissal if the judge finds that the delay is indispensable to the interests of justice and enters a
    written order detailing the reason(s) for the change in the time frame.
    M. The Probation Office is authorized to promulgate and publish Standard Operating
    Procedures to effectuate the purpose of this chapter, subject to review by the Legislative
    Standing Committee. […] RULE 33. DIVERSIONARY PROSECUTION.
    a. A judge shall have the discretion in sentencing a defendant charged with a first
    misdemeanor offense, except where prohibited by these rules, to accept a defendant’s plea of
    guilt and defer entering the plea into the record and defer imposition of sentence for a specified
    time upon the condition of the defendant successfully completing drug and/or alcohol treatment,
    and/or any other appropriate conditions which promote rehabilitation, of which shall be
    specifically stated.
    b. Eligibility for diversionary prosecution shall be determined pursuant to GRIC
    Code § 5 .405 .8 . 1 -3.
    c.
    5.405 .C.
    Monitoring under diversionary prosecution shall be pursuant to GRIC Code §
    d. At any time after the defendant has satisfactorily completed one-half of the
    original diversion period, the defendant may petition the court to reduce or terminate the RULE 33. DIVERSIONARY PROSECUTION.
    a. A judge shall have the discretion in sentencing a defendant charged with a first
    misdemeanor offense, except where prohibited by these rules, to accept a defendant’s plea of
    guilt and defer entering the plea into the record and defer imposition of sentence for a specified
    time upon the condition of the defendant successfully completing drug and/or alcohol treatment,
    and/or any other appropriate conditions which promote rehabilitation, of which shall be
    specifically stated.
    b. Eligibility for diversionary prosecution shall be determined pursuant to GRIC
    Code § 5 .405 .8 . 1 -3.
    c.
    5.405 .C.
    Monitoring under diversionary prosecution shall be pursuant to GRIC Code §
    d. At any time after the defendant has satisfactorily completed one-half of the
    original diversion period, the defendant may petition the court to reduce or terminate the RULE 33. DIVERSIONARY PROSECUTION.
    a. A judge shall have the discretion in sentencing a defendant charged with a first
    misdemeanor offense, except where prohibited by these rules, to accept a defendant’s plea of
    guilt and defer entering the plea into the record and defer imposition of sentence for a specified
    time upon the condition of the defendant successfully completing drug and/or alcohol treatment,
    and/or any other appropriate conditions which promote rehabilitation, of which shall be
    specifically stated.
    b. Eligibility for diversionary prosecution shall be determined pursuant to GRIC
    Code § 5 .405 .8 . 1 -3.
    c.
    5.405 .C.
    Monitoring under diversionary prosecution shall be pursuant to GRIC Code §
    d. At any time after the defendant has satisfactorily completed one-half of the
    original diversion period, the defendant may petition the court to reduce or terminate the supervision if the defendant proves successful completion of the stated condition(s). The court
    shall schedule a hearing to terminate diversionary prosecution and shall promptly notify the
    defendant, defense counsel if any, prosecutor’s office, and Probation Office of the date and time
    of the hearing.
    e. If a judge finds based on evidence presented at the hearing to terminate
    diversionary prosecution that the defendant satisfactorily fulfilled all conditions of the diversion
    condition(s), including no subsequent criminal charges against the defendant while on diversion,
    the judge shall dismiss the offense.
    f. If the defendant fails to successfully complete the stated condition(s) of
    diversionary prosecution, the prosecutor may file a written motion requesting that the order
    suspending the prosecution be vacated. The prosecutor shall serve a copy of the written motion
    to the defendant and defense counsel, if any. The court shall schedule a hearing to determine
    whether the court should reinstate prosecution, enter the defendant’s plea of gui l ty and reinstate
    the conditions and shall promptly notify the defendant, defense counsel if any, prosecutor’s
    office of the date and time of the hearing. The hearing shall be held in conformance with the
    requirements in the GRIC Code § 5 .405 .E
    g. If a judge finds, by preponderance of the evidence, based on evidence presented
    at the hearing to reinstate prosecution defendant failed to fulfill the conditions of the deferred
    sentence or was charged with subsequent criminal charges, the judge shall enter the defendant’s
    plea of guilt into the record and sentence the defendant pursuant to these rules.
    h. At the expiration of the time period for diversionary prosecution, the court shall
    order the prosecution dismissed with prejudice.

Read Full Text of Gila River Indian Community Ordinance GR-03-13, § 405, § 406 & GR-97-13, § 5.401, Rule 33.