How Does the Diversion Program Work in Louisiana?
If you are wondering how the diversion program works in Louisiana, you are in the right place and should keep reading. In this post, we are going to talk about how the diversion program works specifically for Louisiana.
What is Pretrial Diversion
This is a program that was designed to help give the opportunity to an offender. This opportunity is to ensure that charges are resolved after they have completed the requirements for their program. Keep in mind that not everyone will qualify for the diversion program. This will depend on what the pending charges are and what the nature of the charge is.
There are fees associated with these programs as well. The fees are also required to be paid off before the charge would be resolved.
There are cases that will be rejected for this program because of the nature of the crime. Often you will see that violent and repeat offenders are not going to qualify for this program.
How The Diversion Program Works
Reviewing Cases
Cases are reviewed based on individuals. Keep in mind that no case will be decided on a single thing. The prosecutor will look at many factors when considering this program. Some of the things that will be taken into consideration are the nature of the crime and the history of the person who is being charged.
Also, if you are unable to pay for the program, you should notify your attorney. You will need to provide proof that you are unable to pay for the program. If you do this, the courts will look at your case and make any necessary modifications to your pretrial. This could include payment plans, price adjustments, and other modifications.
A Pretrial Officer
If you are accepted into the program, you will have what is known as a pretrial officer. This is going to be the person in which the defendant contacts throughout the program. This officer will also provide the participant of the program with all the requirements that are needed in order to complete this program.
The charges will determine how long the program lasts and what the requirements are for passing the program. Keep in mind you will be given accurate and updated information after you have been accepted into the program. The state will help you with the process as well.
Do I Need to Plead Guilty?
The point of the program is to keep the charge off your record. If you plead guilty, you are throwing your innocence out of the window. You will then not keep a clean record. If you complete the diversion program upon acceptance, you will not have to worry about the charge any longer.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer for Your Diversion Program
If you are finding it difficult to do this process on your own, you may want to hire an experienced attorney. If you go through this process alone, you may be pressured into admitting guilt, taking plea deals, and more. You will have no way of knowing if what you are doing is what is right for you.
How A Lawyer Can Help
A lawyer will benefit you in many ways. You are going to see that a criminal lawyer is not going to just look at the diversion program as an option. If you have defenses that are logical and realistic, you can fight the charge completely. Your lawyer will determine the best route of action for you.
For example, if you are looking into the diversion program for DUI cases, you will often notice that people miss their hearings or do not have them set up properly for their licenses. This will often result in a suspension or loss of license. With an experienced lawyer, you will have a hearing set up for your license specifically. Your lawyer will help defend you in this instance.
How Does Diversion Program Work in Louisiana
The first step is ensuring that you are accepted into the program. Hiring a lawyer as soon as you are arrested is the first step to creating a strategy for your case. Hiring a lawyer will help you throughout your case even if you are not guilty. Upon acceptance, you will be required to complete the program.
For each case, the program will differ from the requirements needed to complete the program. To ensure that you are doing what is best for yourself, hire an experienced lawyer like Carl Barkemeyer, Criminal Defense Attorney. He has a criminal law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and can help with these types of situations and many other practice areas too. Now that you know how the diversion program in Louisiana works, you are all set!
