A minor shall be selected for participation in a program established pursuant to this article based upon the following factors:

(a) The minor is 15¹/₂ years of age or younger, has been declared a ward of the juvenile court for the first time and is to be supervised by a probation department selected for participation in this project.

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(b) The minor has been evaluated and found to have at least three of the following factors, that place the minor at a significantly greater risk of becoming a chronic juvenile or adult offender:

(1) School behavior and performance problems. This shall include at least one of the following: attendance problems; school suspension or expulsion; or failure in two or more academic classes during the previous six months or comparable academic period.

(2) Family problems. These shall include at least one of the following: poor parental supervision or control; documented circumstances of domestic violence; child abuse or neglect; or family members who have engaged in criminal activities.

(3) Substance abuse. This shall include any regular use of alcohol or drugs by the minor, other than experimentation.

(4) High-risk predelinquent behavior. This shall include at least one of the following: a pattern of stealing; chronic running away from home; or gang membership or association.

(5) The minor matches the at-risk profile for becoming a chronic and repeat juvenile offender according to the criteria developed by the Multi-Agency At-Risk Youth Committee (MAARYC).

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 327, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1999.)