The Pre-Trial Diversion program allows first time, non-violent offenders an opportunity to not have a criminal record if they successfully complete numerous goal-oriented conditions. This diversion program results in benefits to the participant, community, courts, and the jails by reducing the costs on our court system and lowering the rate of return offenders.
The program provides education and tools through specialized programs that are tailored to the individual needs of offenders, helping them become better and more productive members of society.
Conditions when Pre-Trial Diversion is appropriate:
- The offender is eighteen (18) years of age or older;
- There is a substantial likelihood that justice will be served if the offender is placed in an intervention program;
- It is determined that the needs of the offender and the state can better be met outside the traditional criminal justice process;
- It is apparent that the offender poses no threat to the community;
- It appears that the offender is unlikely to be involved in further criminal activity;
- The offender, in those cases where it is required, is likely to respond quickly to rehabilitative treatment;
- The offender has no significant history of prior delinquency or criminal activity;
- The offender has been indicted and is represented by an attorney; and
- The court has determined that the Office of District Attorney or the Mississippi Department of Corrections has sufficient support staff to administer such an intervention program
Veterans Pre-Trial Diversion
The Veterans Pre-Trial Diversion Program was created in partnership with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, in an effort to provide needed services for those who were members of our Armed Forces. The goal of Veteran’s Diversion is to provide rehabilitative services to those veterans who have committed certain types of criminal offenses, in an effort to assist veterans in correcting behaviors sometimes associated with prior military service. The programs include substance abuse evaluation and treatment, mental health evaluation, treatment and job skill development.
Juvenile Diversion Programs
The Seventh Circuit District Attorney’s Office has a diverse and very effective philosophy for working with juvenile offenders. While our primary duty is to protect the community, we also attempt to rehabilitate our juvenile offenders with the hope that they do not re-offend.
The Juvenile Unit has helped design and implement numerous diversion programs to meet the individual needs of each juvenile. These diversion programs make first time, less serious offenders accountable for their criminal behavior but give them an opportunity to have the case dismissed if that program is successfully completed.
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is an approach that focuses on examining who is harmed when a crime has been committed and determining ways to repair the harm inflicted upon each individual.