When someone is accused of a crime, even if they’re guilty, it doesn’t always mean that he or she will be charged, go to jail, or get a criminal conviction.
In the state of Minnesota, offenders accused of or charged with criminal offenses may be eligible to participate in a diversion program in order to avoid charges, convictions, or jail.
The objectives of Minnesota’s diversion programs are to provide offenders with an alternative to jail time and a criminal conviction or even the filing of charges, reduce the costs and burdens on the criminal justice system, and to develop responsible alternatives to the criminal justice system.
There are two types of diversion programs: precharge diversion and pretrial diversion.
With a precharge diversion program the alleged offender is contacted by the prosecution and given the opportunity to participate in a program, that if successful will keep the person from being charged with a crime. The benefits of this type of diversion is that not only can the person avoid a conviction or jail, they can avoid showing up in the public legal system at all since no charges are filed. If you are contacted by the state about a precharge diversion program, you should contact an attorney to determine if this is the best course of action.
Pretrial diversion occurs after the defendant has been charged, but prior to trial. This is the more common of the two types of diversion programs. When you enter into a pretrial diversion, the prosecution is put on hold and if the defendant successfully completes the program, the charges are dismissed.
During a diversion program, participants may receive personal or group counseling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and other programming appropriate to their needs.
Former Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal said the goal of [these] efforts is to spot and eliminate the “unfair barriers” that can keep people cycling through the criminal justice system. She said the city doesn’t intend to stop enforcing driving offenses or other crimes, but instead hopes to reduce the collateral impact they can have on some first-time or nonviolent offenders.
Not all Minnesota counties offer pretrial diversion programs, and not all offenders are eligible to participate. Generally, the charges must be low-level and nonviolent and the defendant has to be a first time or minimal offender that hasn’t previously participated in a diversion program. There are exceptions to these criteria based upon the county and the circumstances.
If you believe your case is eligible for diversion, speak to your defense attorney. They can advise you of your options and negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf. It’s important that you speak with an attorney prior to making a plea of guilty in court. Once you have pled guilty, you will no longer be eligible for a diversion program. However, some diversion programs require that the defendant enter a plea of guilty, or make admissions that are held in the event they do not successfully complete the program.
There are various diversion programs available, depending on the type of crime which the defendant has been charged.
This program is for defendants who have been accused of shoplifting or low-level theft. Eligible offenses may include theft or shoplifting at the misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor level and even sometimes at a felony level.
Defendants who agree to complete a Shoplifting or Theft diversion program will be required to complete classroom instruction and training. They may also be required to write an apology letter to the victim of their offense, complete community service, and pay restitution to the victim.
Drivers who have received a moving violation may be eligible for the Traffic Education diversion program. The program may include an online or in-person training course that focuses on good driving habits and reviews the rules of the road. There may also be a test requirement to the program.
This program assists drivers with unpaid citations or fines that have led to the suspension of one’s driver’s license. Eligible offenses include Driving After Suspension and Driving After Revocation. Cases involving accidents are generally not eligible.
Participation in this program allows defendants to obtain provisional reinstatement of their license so they can legally drive. The program will require the fines or citation be paid but can be done on a payment plan. A written test, driving test, classes, or community service may also be required.
This program consists of a meeting between the defendant and a group of community members to discuss the impact of the crime on the community and create a restitution agreement.
Together, the group forms an agreement that the defendant must implement. Agreements usually include an apology letter, community service hours, and other sanctions.
This program was developed for first- and second-time juvenile offenders who are between 13 and 18 years old. Through the use of structured activities, the goal of the program is to provide a positive alternative to the court system, while teaching leadership and decision-making skills.
Pursuant to Minnesota Statute §401.065, by July 1, 1994, every county attorney of a county participating in the Community Corrections Act shall establish a pretrial diversion program for adult offenders. There are some counties in Minnesota who have not complied with this law and do not have a program. Additionally, city attorneys, who prosecute non-felony offenses, are not necessarily required to establish a diversion program. It’s possible that in one county there may be a diversion program for felony level offenses but not at the non-felony level.
In these situations, a creative defense attorney can develop a private diversion agreement to propose to the prosecution that will result in the same outcome as a formal diversion program.
As stated above, nothing will appear in the public record if the defendant successfully completes a precharge diversion program. However, if someone is charged with a crime, successfully completes a precharge diversion program and the charges are dismissed, the arrest, charges, and court proceedings are public record, except in certain juvenile cases. Even though the case is ultimately dismissed and there is no conviction, all of that information will still appear in a background check.
Minnesota law allows for a defendant to apply for an expungement when a case has been dismissed after a diversion program. The defendant must wait one year from the dismissal and cannot have any new charges in the year prior to filing for expungement. If an expungement is granted, the public record will be sealed.
If you believe you are eligible for a pretrial diversion program, contact the attorneys at Bruno Law. We have experience negotiating pretrial diversion programs for clients, including successfully obtaining entry to the programs for crimes that are typically ineligible.
763-545-7900 
