Pretrial Diversion

If the county in which you were arrested offers pretrial diversion (or some other “diversionary” process), it is usually a good idea to consider accepting that. The reason being that, once you complete the program, all the charges are dismissed. After that, you still might have to do a sealing or expunction to get it completely off your record, but it sure beats having to fight it in court.

Pretrial diversion is intended for first-time offenders and it is usually a discretionary program (meaning you are not entitled to it). If you are offered it and you accept, you will most likely have to take some classes, do some community service hours and pay some fines and/or court costs. It may not be easy or cheap, but it’s a bird in the hand.

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