While participants are in the Diversion Counseling Program, our staff aims to help them address barriers and issues that may have contributed to criminal or delinquent behaviors, including mental health needs. Therapists and Case Managers help participants to improve insight, make amends, and reflect on the ways they will approach similar situations differently in the future, thereby reducing risk to the community.

Our program consistently assesses our processes to ensure that our approach is effective. One of the ways we do that is to encourage participants to complete a voluntary, anonymous survey. We are happy to report that approximately 90% of those who completed the survey reported that they understood the expectations of the program, believed that the work they did in Diversion was helpful, and helped them to take full responsibility for their actions. They also said they learned something helpful through the restorative justice process that was meaningful to their case and, they are less likely to commit another crime in the future. This work is accomplished through relationships; getting to know their stories and struggles so we can develop an individualized plan to best help them succeed in the Diversion Program and beyond.

Our staff is committed to their respective areas of expertise as counselors, therapists, social workers, case managers and victim advocates. Collectively, we work to find creative approaches to help juveniles and adults to be successful. As such, here are some recent comments from participants about their experience in DCP:

• “My counselor did a great job advocating for me and pushing me to do my best without overwhelming me or making it feel like it was an end-all-be-all situation. She didn't rush me in a way that felt like it was something that needed to be done but more so in a way that led me to my own growth. This allowed me to take the skills that I learned outside of diversion and into the rest of my life.”
• “I really appreciate my case manager for taking the time to explain carefully how lucky I am to get this opportunity and how I should take the opportunity and use it to help make my life better and my relationships better. They gave me a chance to not have a record and to show it was a one-time mistake, that is not going to be repeated. I have learned and grown from this experience, and it’s one of my most important lessons so far in life and I’m very grateful. Thank you for giving me a chance to fix or, as best as I can make up for it.”
• “I want to let my counselor know that I thank her for her patience, outlook, and support that she has given me throughout my diversion process. Not only did she look at me as a human being with emotions and feelings but showed empathy with her own experiences. She took time to get to know me outside of my case number and a kid in the system. She was very professional and helped my diversion process fly by. Thank you!!!”

Other 2023 highlights in the Diversion Counseling Program include:

• The Diversion team attended the annual Diversion Conference in Steamboat Springs in June.
• We hired several new staff such as a Victim Advocate, Therapist, and Intake Clinician, adding to the services we offer.
• Our Clinical staff attended a training, Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), which further equips therapists to help clients experiencing a suicidal crisis.
• Our non-clinical staff attended Mental Health First Aid training, to add to the knowledge and tools Case Managers and Victim Advocates have at their disposal to assess and help clients.

Because of our Investigator’s vast amount of expertise and training, members of Investigations routinely are sought out

to teach. In 2023, members of the Investigations unit taught

75 days’ worth of classes throughout the state and Western US in various topics, including but not limited to:

• Child Sex Assault Investigations
• Human Trafficking
• Child Forensic Interviews
• Clandestine Laboratory Investigations
• Electronic Surveillance and Exploitation
• Major Case Investigations
• New Detectives Academy
• Various classes at regional police academies

Due to a substantial increase in fentanyl related crimes, the 18th Judicial District applied for and received funding from a Fentanyl Grant. This grant allowed our office to create two new investigations positions. These two new positions focus on fentanyl overdose death investigations and large-scale fentanyl distribution/importation investigations. From May 2023 to December 2023, our investigators have been a part of seizing over 215,200 fentanyl pills and 4 kilograms of fentanyl powder, while also investigating several overdose deaths related to fentanyl. Aside from criminal investigations, these investigators, working with their DA counterparts, present fentanyl awareness classes to various members of the community, ranging from students to community organizations.

Our investigator assigned to the Human Trafficking team participated in two HT proclamation events held by the Aurora City Council and Arapahoe County Commissioners. These events are all about raising awareness related to Human Trafficking and anti-trafficking efforts. This same investigator, Robert Friel, received the 2023 18th Judicial Victim Rights Week Career Investigator Award. Also, part of Human Trafficking awareness, members of our Investigations Unit participated in Operation Cross Country. This annual nationwide multi-jurisdictional event results in the recovery of numerous trafficked victims, as well as endangered runaways.

The Elbert County DA’s Office is staffed by 2 attorneys plus a full-time legal assistant and full-time victim-witness specialist. We specialize in the vertical prosecution of felony, juvenile, misdemeanor and traffic cases filed by ECSO, Elizabeth PD, CSP, Simla PD and Co Div of Wildlife. Thanks to Sue Jensen, we are widely known for excellent customer service due to the time and attention she provides to all those who drop by, call in or email with questions.  

Elbert County is the 2^nd largest county in the 18^th JD covering 1851 square miles with Lincoln covering 2577 and the smaller landmasses of Douglas at 841 and Arapahoe at 798. A distinct advantage to working in this smaller county is the close working relationship developed with law enforcement, the courts and probation staff.  The bulk of the DA caseload is provided by ECSO who normally has only 2 deputies on duty at any given time with felonies being filed by the ECSO investigations unit which consists of 1 sergeant and 1.5 investigators.   A particular challenge is retaining law enforcement officers when local housing prices are continuously rising and pay and benefits are significantly higher just across the county lines to the north and east.  Elbert County prosecutors handle all civil mental health involuntary commitment cases filed with the District Court since the county is under 50,000 people.  Another special assignment covered by our prosecutors is that we act as “pseudo” pretrial services by setting defendants up on monitored sobriety and monitoring them as a courtesy to the Elbert County Courts.  This practice will hopefully be eliminated with the help of Douglas County Pretrial Services once the 23^rd comes into being.  

We wrapped up the MS-13 Murder/COCCA cases. Charges included three murders, several attempt murders, tampering with evidence, and drug distribution. Twenty defendants were charged in 2020. We completed two, month long trials last year against the clique leaders. The third clique leader plead guilty without a plea agreement and received a life sentence. We also wrapped up the rest of the cases last year. This was a team effort that included Amber Cochran, Amanda Chase, Emily Riley, Amanda Chase, APD Matt Ingui Laura Wilson, Grant Grosgebauer, Victoria Klingensmith, and Jason Siers. The office’s commitment to this complicated case and hard work of the trial team was recognized by CDAC with 2023 Outstanding Trial Team Achievement Award.