Pretrial intervention and diversion are terms that describe an alternative criminal justice process, one that stresses rehabilitation over harsh incarceration. Recognizing that the prison system often does more to harden offenders than to reform them, the Texas legislature has empowered counties to create specialty courts. These courts often defer prosecution by requiring the defendant an opportunity to complete a program and possibly provide restitution to victims. In San Antonio, Kevin L. Collins, P.C. represents individuals accused of criminal offenses, many of whom benefit from pretrial intervention and diversion. If you have been charged with a serious crime, but would benefit from a program available through a specialty court, we can argue for an alternative to prosecution if warranted by the circumstances.
Each county develops its own rules for its diversion programs. Some of programs involve hearings in a specialty court, such as:
To have your case diverted from criminal court to the appropriate specialty court, your attorney has to convince the judge and prosecutor that you are a good candidate for diversion. If the prosecutor agrees to defer prosecution, you get an opportunity to complete a program and have the charges dropped.
Diversion programs offered by specialty courts help some accused individuals overcome their legal problems while they avoid a criminal record that hampers their ability to be part of the law-abiding community. When you enter a diversion program through a specialty court, you are placed on pretrial probation. You’ll be given conditions, tailored to your situation, which you must meet to complete the program. Generally, conditions include:
When you complete the program successfully, the prosecutor will withdraw the charges against you, and you can expunge your arrest record. With an expungement, you can legally answer “No” to questions about whether you’ve ever been arrested.
Attorney Kevin L. Collins has helped many clients facing criminal allegations clear their records through pretrial diversion. He’s ready to help you do the same.
Kevin L. Collins, P.C. helps criminal defense clients qualify for pretrial diversion and deferred adjudication throughout the San Antonio area. If you have been arrested, call immediately at 210-598-8629 or contact the office online. The law office is conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Antonio.