A Multisite Evaluation of Prosecutor-Led Pretrial Diversion: Effects on Conviction, Incarceration, and Recidivism

Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in prosecutor-led pretrial diversion programs, yet up-to-date research on the effectiveness of these programs is lacking. Participants in four prosecutor-led diversion programs, Cook County, IL (separate analyses for misdemeanor and felony participants), Milwaukee County, WI (two distinct programs varying in participant risk level and treatment intensity), and Chittenden County, VT, were propensity-score matched to comparison defendants (total n = 5,040). All programs yielded a significant decrease in instant case conviction (mean odds ratio = .12) and use of jail sentences (mean odds ratio = .33). There was also a trend toward reduced re-arrest at 2 years (mean odds ratio = .79). Three of four diversion programs significantly delayed onset of first re-arrest. Taken together, results support the effectiveness of a diverse set of prosecutor-led pretrial diversion programs that varied in charge severity, participant risk level, and program duration and intensity.

Monitoring and improving antipsychotic adherence in outpatient forensic diversion programs

Outpatient diversion programs present an opportunity for severely mentally ill defendants to receive psychiatric treatment and have alleged offenses dismissed by the court. Moreover, the successful completion of pretrial diversion is associated with fewer post-program arrest and jail days. The target patient population for such programs is typically people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the care of such patients in outpatient settings presents challenges for monitoring treatment fidelity, specifically antipsychotic adherence, as low adherence rates are associated with increased rates of recidivism. Presented here is a review of evidence-based strategies that must be employed to track antipsychotic adherence in outpatient diversion programs, including pill counts, use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics, and determination of plasma antipsychotic levels to assess adherence and the adequacy of antipsychotic treatment. Antipsychotic therapy remains the foundation of schizophrenia treatment, but only through the use of all available modalities can clinicians maximize the odds that schizophrenia patients in pretrial diversion maintain psychiatric stability and successfully complete mental health court mandates.

Deferred Prosecution Agreements, Nonprosecution Agreements, and Corporate Integrity Agreements

Companies—especially publicly traded companies—do not want to go to trial in criminal cases. In fact, they do not want to be indicted at all. Indictment, let alone trial, can have serious consequences. With the dramatic increase in corporate criminal prosecutions over the last two decades, a fourth option has emerged in the corporate criminal arena: deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) and nonprosecution agreements (NPAs), which are alternatives to the traditional “guilty” or “not guilty” approach that the law has generally taken to charged crimes. Collectively, these agreements are known as corporate pretrial diversion agreements. Whether the government elects to use one of these agreements depends on multiple factors.

Impact of Offenses in Alternative Sentences

Alternative sentences prevent violence and help the community. Prison is known as a place where people are confined and restricted from personal freedom. There are a lot of crime categories where exists different type of offenders, but on the other hand there are a lot of solutions for each of them .Imprisonment is not always the only way to punish an offender. As alternative sentences we can list some of them: a suspended sentence, probation, fines, restitution, community service and deferred adjudication/pretrial diversion. Alternative sentences can be different based on the type and harshness of the crime, the effect of the crime on the victims, the age of the defendant, the defendants criminal history and the defendants remorse. This is decided by the judge, court. Below we will explain some different types of alternative sentences in more details.