Pueblo District Attorney Needs Less Money For Juvenile Program

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) - The Pueblo District Attorney's is seeing a decrease in youth crime, so has called for slashing the budget of a juvenile diversion program.

The Pueblo Chieftain reports that county commissioners accepted that recommendation at a meeting Monday night, reducing funding from a state criminal justice grant for the program by half, to about $27,000.

Ellen Cooney, who manages grants for the district attorney's office, told commissioners staff members have been able to implement parts of the program more efficiently, and that because of fewer incidents, fewer young people were being referred to the program than when the grant was initiated seven or eight years ago.

Commissioner Terry Hart says he is pleased to see such success.