A Compelling Option When Georgia Shoplifting Charges Are Involved
If you or your child has been accused of a first shoplifting offense, attractive options may be available to greatly reduce the exposure and the consequences. These options, which include pretrial diversion, vary by county and by court, and are not provided in every case, but when they are available, we can help you take advantage of them. Contact us to talk to a shoplifting defense lawyer about your situation.
With pretrial diversion, which may take different forms and names, the accused person is able to avoid a criminal charge and prevent the establishment of a criminal record if the requirements of the program are met satisfactorily. Courts that offer pretrial diversion stand to benefit from reduced case volumes, and low-risk accused persons benefit by keeping a clean record.
How Pretrial Diversion Works
Courts that offer pretrial diversion set requirements that typically include interventions like community service and cognitive skills counseling. If you enter a pretrial diversion program, such as Alpharetta's One Year Clear, your case is taken off the court's docket and you will cease to be prosecuted. If you complete your assigned requirements, which include not re-offending, within a specified period of time (usually 6 months or one year), the case is dismissed, the charge is expunged and you get no criminal record.
On the flip side, if you commit an offense during the probationary period or otherwise fail to fulfill the program's terms, you will almost always be actively prosecuted for the original offense and given a more significant penalty.
Contact a Skilled Shoplifting Defense Attorney
A skilled shoplifting defense attorney can help you understand the charges against you or your child, carefully explain your legal rights and help you chart your next steps. Contact us to find out if pre-trial diversion is a viable option in your case, or to explore other possibilities if you or a loved one has been accused of shoplifting.
