It is surprisingly easy to face a criminal charge over what in fact was little more than a mistake, a lapse in judgment or just the result of a very dark period in a person’s life.
Going through the criminal justice system for the first time, from the initial contact with New Jersey law enforcement authorities through trial or a plea and, if convicted, sentencing is scary.
Of course, it happens too often that innocent people get accused of crimes or face overblown charges.
Even those who admit that they made a mistake still have a lot of legitimate worries. Jail time is almost always a possibility after a criminal offense, even if a person has never been in trouble.
Even if jail is unlikely in a specific case, a criminal case still imposes a hefty toll on one’s time and money. Furthermore, a single criminal conviction can have serious legal, professional and personal consequences outside the criminal justice system itself.
Thankfully, New Jersey courts and prosecutors use several diversionary programs that those who have never been in trouble before can use.
These programs do cost money and take time, and they also require people to follow certain rules or, in some situations, even submit to drug testing or perform certain tasks.
However, at the end of the day, a person who completes these programs can walk away without a criminal conviction. Effectively, they get a full second chance without even a black mark on their criminal records.
New York has similar diversion programs available to eligible people.
Those who are eligible for diversion programs should understand their options
A diversionary program can be a golden opportunity for good citizens who have simply had a one-time lapse in judgment.
However, they need to understand all their rights and responsibilities with respect to these programs.
If they do not, and it leads to their not completing the program successfully, then they could wind up in a worse position than had they not signed up for the program in the first place.