It can negatively impact your life to have a felony conviction on your record. The good news is that many folks have options. You can think about participating in a diversion program rather than being found guilty of the offense outright. To learn more about this choice’s benefits and drawbacks, keep reading.
No matter which option you choose, be sure you are dealing with a criminal defense attorney in Newport Beach CA who will fight for the best possible outcome. Contact Simmons Wagner, LLP at (949) 439-5857 for a consultation.
Basic information about a diversion program
A diversion program is made to give an eligible person the chance to enroll in a program that will help them deal with the problems that led to their offense. A person may be eligible for one of the following four categories of diversion programs: mental health, substance difficulties, juvenile offenders, and military members. Then, each of those categories contains a large number of programs.
The particular program that a person must attend will depend on a number of variables. Although they are all different, they all generally consist of both educational programs and therapy sessions. They often continue for at least six months, and occasionally for a whole year. The guilty plea is subsequently retracted, and the charge against the individual is dropped, once they had fulfilled all criteria of the diversion program.
Who can participate in a diversion program?
Not everyone is eligible for a diversion program, and eligibility depends on a variety of circumstances, chief among them the particulars of the felony committed. A misdemeanor and some felonies may qualify a defendant for a mental health or juvenile diversion program. A person cannot be charged with a felony if they request a military or drug diversion.
The American Psychiatric Association must recognize the mental health illness for it to qualify for the mental health diversion program, and the offender’s mental health issue must have contributed to the crime in question. The accused’s safety on the streets will be taken into account by the court, along with the likelihood that the accused will respond favorably to treatment.
There may be a diversion program available for a military member who has PTDS, a brain injury, or particular forms of mental health illnesses that are thought to be related to their service. Even if the prosecution approves, a judge must still give the go-ahead for all forms of diversion programs.
Do you believe a program of diversion could be best for you? Call a criminal defense attorney in Newport Beach CA for help
Call the Simmons Wagner, LLP at (949) 439-5857 as soon as possible if you are facing criminal charges and want to know your legal options. To help you better understand your options, we can offer a legal consultation with a criminal defense attorney in Newport Beach CA.