2016 West Virginia Code
CHAPTER 49. CHILD WELFARE
ARTICLE 4. COURT ACTIONS.
§49-4-725. Restorative justice programs.

(a) The court or prosecuting attorney may divert a juvenile referred to the court for a status offense or for a nonviolent misdemeanor offense to a restorative justice program, where available, prior to adjudication.

(b) A restorative justice program shall:

(1) Emphasize repairing the harm against the victim and the community caused by the juvenile;

(2) Include victim-offender dialogues or family group conferencing attended voluntarily by the victim, the juvenile offender, a facilitator, a victim advocate, community members, or supporters of the victim or the juvenile offender that provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to those affected by the crime and to participate in setting consequences to repair the harm; and

(3) Implement sanctions for the juvenile, including, but not limited to, restitution to the victim, restitution to the community, services for the victim or the community, or any other sanction intended to provide restitution to the victim or the community.

(c) If a juvenile is referred to, and successfully completes, a restorative justice program, the petition against the juvenile shall be dismissed.

(d) No information obtained as the result of a restorative justice program is admissible in a subsequent proceeding under this article.