Plea in Abeyance Amendments

HB 254 modifies Utah's plea in abeyance process for certain first-time offenders. It requires prosecutors to offer plea in abeyance to individuals under 18 charged with specific misdemeanors like retail theft, underage alcohol possession, or minor drug possession, provided they have no prior convictions. The bill also changes compensatory service rules, allowing defendants to perform community service (credited at $12/hour) instead of paying fines or fees for eligible offenses, with strict documentation requirements. These changes apply directly to defendants facing low-level criminal charges who meet the eligibility criteria. The bill makes no changes to victim restitution or court fees for certain offenses.