Fairfax County is reaching out to parents to explain a new process that helps young first-time offenders arrested for marijuana possession avoid a court appearance. Virginia implemented new rules on July 1 that streamlined the way some pot possession cases are handled. But those new rules are causing a lot of confusion, county officials said.

Under Virginia law many first-time pot offenders have the option of “diversion” — avoiding a court appearance and opting for a more informal monitoring instead. But parents were confused when their child’s summons arrived with a “notice for diversion.”