Being convicted of a crime in the state of Ohio, even if it is a only a misdemeanor conviction, can have serious implications for different areas of your life, including your ability to gain certain types of employment, your housing choices, and your eligibility for other programs that require a criminal background check.
Pretrial Diversion Programs in Ohio
One option for persons charged with relatively minor crimes in the state of Ohio, or who have no previous criminal convictions is the pretrial diversion program. By paying a certain fee, you enter into a pretrial diversion program, which allows you to admit guilt by entering a plea of guilty. The court will then hold judgment of your conviction in Ohio until you complete certain requirements, which is much like a probationary period; you may have to attend counseling, treatment, educational classes, do community service, and/or pay a fine and/or restitution to the victim of your crime.
Intervention in Lieu of Conviction
If you have committed a non-violent offense due to problems with alcohol and/or drugs, you may be eligible for a program in Ohio that is commonly referred to as intervention in lieu of conviction. The idea behind this program is to treat the underlying substance abuse problem, rather than simply punishing the person for the offense. In this sort of program, you usually must complete a period of probation and/or supervision during which you receive treatment for your substance abuse problem and submit to random testing to ensure that you remain clean and sober.
Consult an Attorney for Assistance
If you are facing a criminal charge in the state of Ohio and wish to participate in any available programs in order to avoid a conviction in your criminal history, you should immediately consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney, who is licensed in the state of Ohio, for assistance with your case. An attorney will be able to advise you as to your suitability for these alternative sentence programs, and perhaps help you become eligible for these programs.
