View source
for
Am I Eligible for a Pretrial Diversion?
Jump to:
navigation
,
search
There are several terms for what is named a "pretrial diversion" or "deferred prosecution" agreement. It can be referred to by different terms in different jurisdictions. To provide an example, in North Carolina, a drug diversion is also known as the "90-96 program." In Broward County, it is most often referred to as a "diversion" or a "deferral." A deferred prosecution allows the accused to admit guilt or enter a plea of no contest. The plea is then put on hold while the defendant completes the terms of the diversion agreement. The diversion usually consists of several hours of community service, drug testing and any types of conditions which are deemed appropriate based on the offense. In that sense, the terms of a diversion are pretty flexible. It is important to note that a diversion is offered through the Office of The State Attorney. The Judge will not have the authority to force the State into offering a defendant a diversion. To that extent, whether a defendant qualifies for a diversion is based on the policies and procedures written by the Office of the State Attorney. There are specific policies which might be general guidelines and there are specific policies that seem like hard and fast rules. In Florida, office policies vary by circuit. Being a defendant in a criminal case is extremely stressful. Nearly all people are extremely anxious to have their attorney attack the State's case from the very beginning. However, it is not at all times the best strategy to do so. If your attorney determines that you would possibly be eligible to get a diversion, your attorney may not initially ask for discovery or, for that matter, do anything in your case. Different State Attorney's Offices have different guidelines. Some offices have a policy of not offering a diversion to someone who's requested discovery in his or her case. The rationale isn't that requesting discovery is a punishment, but rather the diversion offer is a reward for accepting responsibility in a timely fashion. In case you are considering a diversion, your attorney would be able to best tell you what an appropriate strategy would be. The Law Offices of Michael A. Dye, P.A. is a [http://alcoholanddruglaw.com Broward County Criminal Defense] law firm located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. Dye has extensive experience representing individuals charged with DUI and other serious criminal offenses. For more information, please call (954)745-5848 or visit [http://alcoholanddruglaw.com http://AlcoholAndDrugLaw.com].
Return to
Am I Eligible for a Pretrial Diversion?
.
Personal tools
Log in
Namespaces
Page
Discussion
Variants
Views
Read
View source
View history
Actions
Search
Navigation
Home
Program
Papers
Challenge
Call For Papers
2nd Call For Papers
Program Committee
Organizing Committee
Toolbox
What links here
Related changes
Special pages