(

a) If a petition has been filed by the prosecuting attorney to declare a minor a ward of the court under

Section 602, the court may, without adjudging the minor a ward of the court and with the consent of the minor and the minor’s parents or guardian, continue any hearing on a petition for six months and order the minor to participate in a program of supervision as set forth in

Section 654. If the probation officer recommends additional time to enable the minor to complete the program, the court at its discretion may order an extension. Fifteen days prior to the final conclusion of the program of supervision undertaken pursuant to this section, the probation officer shall submit to the court a followup report of the minor’s participation in the program. The minor and the minor’s parents or guardian shall be ordered to appear at the conclusion of the six-month period and at the conclusion of each additional three-month period.

If the minor successfully completes the program of supervision, the court shall order the petition be dismissed. If the minor has not successfully completed the program of supervision, proceedings on the petition shall proceed no later than months from the date the petition was filed. (

b) If the minor is eligible for

Section supervision, and the probation officer believes the minor would benefit from a program of supervision pursuant to this section, the probation officer may, in referring the affidavit described in

Section 653.5 to the prosecuting attorney, recommend informal supervision as provided in this section. (

c) A minor shall be given equal consideration for informal probation pursuant to

Section 654.3 regardless of whether the minor lives in the county where the offense occurred.