California Diversion Data Guide
What Is the Success Rate of Diversion Programs in California?
There is no single statewide "success rate" covering every California diversion program. Mental Health Diversion, drug diversion, judicial misdemeanor diversion, military diversion and local programs operate under different laws and collect different data. Any percentage needs a specific program, time period and definition of success.
Quick answer
Is There One California Diversion Success Rate?
- No. California has several diversion statutes and local programs.
- Each program measures different things over different periods.
- A percentage means little without the program, period, population and metric.
Five measurements
What Does "Success Rate" Actually Mean?
Five different diversion measurements: requests granted, program completion, case dismissal, treatment engagement and post-program outcome.
Requests granted
- How many requests a court granted
Program completion
- How many participants finished requirements
Case dismissal
- How many cases were dismissed afterward
Treatment engagement
- How many participants stayed engaged in care
Post-program outcome
- What happened after the program ended
These are different metrics
- They are not interchangeable
Official data
What California Actually Reports
Official reporting is program-specific. Some statutes include data-collection requirements; others do not produce a statewide public report. When a number is quoted, check which program, which period and which measure it describes.
Mental Health Diversion
Mental Health Diversion Data
The Judicial Council's 2026 Mental Health Diversion Data Summary Report includes statewide trial-court reporting related to Mental Health Diversion petitions, including grants and denial-related data. The share of petitions granted is not a "success rate." It describes court decisions on requests, not completion or later outcomes. This data covers Mental Health Diversion only. See our Mental Health Diversion overview.
Two different numbers
Grant Rate vs Completion Rate
A grant rate counts requests the court approved. A completion rate counts participants who finished program requirements. A high grant rate says nothing on its own about completion, and the reverse is also true.
Two different events
Completion vs Dismissal
Completion and dismissal are related but separate. A statute may provide for dismissal after satisfactory performance, but data systems may record them at different times or in different ways.
Data limits
Why Diversion Statistics Are Easy to Misread
- Different statutes — each program has its own rules
- Different counties — local practices and resources vary
- Different referral populations — who is referred affects results
- Different eligibility rules — programs accept different people
- Different definitions — "success" is measured differently
- Different reporting periods — timeframes are not aligned
- Missing or incomplete data — not every court reports the same way
- Selection effects — those admitted may already differ from those who are not
Apples and oranges
Why Comparing Programs Is Difficult
Because programs differ in law, population and measurement, comparing percentages across programs or counties is rarely meaningful. Why county data differ: referral practices, local resources and reporting methods all vary.
Your situation
What Statistics Cannot Predict About an Individual Case
Population-level data cannot predict whether a specific request will be granted or what will happen afterward. Defense counsel can discuss your case. If a request is denied, see why diversion requests can be denied.
Data note
ETS does not publish outcome statistics and does not use population data to predict individual results.
What ETS can and cannot do
Where Executive Treatment Solutions Fits
ETS does not predict individual outcomes or claim better results than other participants. ETS may coordinate assessments, treatment, testing, monitoring and case management where relevant.
Responsibilities
Who Does What?
Defense counsel
Advises on the legal pathway for the specific case.
Court
Decides requests and reports data where required.
Qualified clinician
Provides assessment and treatment.
ETS
Coordinates relevant support without predicting outcomes.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Diversion Success Rates
Sources & Legal References
Judicial Council of California
Confidential consultation
Support While Your Case Is Open
ETS can help coordinate treatment, assessments and case management that counsel may find relevant.
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