The court shall hold a hearing and, after consideration of the probation department’s report, and any other relevant information, shall determine if the defendant consents to further proceedings under this chapter and waives his or her right to a speedy trial. If the court orders a defendant to be diverted, the court may make inquiry into the financial condition of the defendant, and upon a finding that the defendant is able in whole or in part, to pay the reasonable cost of diversion, the court may order him or her to pay all or part of such expense. The reasonable cost of diversion shall not exceed the amount determined to be the actual average cost of diversion services.
If the court does not deem the defendant to be a person who would be benefited by diversion, or if the defendant does not consent to participate, the proceedings shall continue as in any other case.
At such time that a defendant’s case is diverted, any bail bond or undertaking, or deposit in lieu thereof, on file by or on behalf of the defendant shall be exonerated, and the court shall enter an order so directing.
The period during which the further criminal proceedings against the defendant may be diverted shall be for the length of time required to complete and verify the diversion program but in no case shall it exceed two years.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1251, Sec. 2.)