How Do You Qualify for NJ’s New Conditional Dismissal Program?
New Jersey recently enacted a law to allow criminal defendants in local municipal courts to enter into the conditional dismissal program, a diversionary program which gives defendants a chance to avoid jail time for criminal convictions. Due to its similarities to the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program, the program has been referred to as “PTI in Municipal Court.” The PTI program is available in Superior Courts for first-time offenders facing indictable felony-level offenses.
Qualifying for the new conditional dismissal program in New Jersey requires a defendant to meet certain basic requirements. These requirements include:
- Defendant charged with a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense (but not a domestic violence offense)
- Defendant has no prior criminal record
- Defendant has not previously been admitted into a diversionary program (including PTI, conditional discharge, or conditional dismissal)
- Defendant was arrested after January 4, 2014
If you are facing criminal charges and you meet the above requirements, you may be eligible for the conditional dismissal program in New Jersey. If you do qualify for entry into the conditional dismissal program, you will first need to plead guilty to the offense. At that point, the charges against you will be suspended for one (1) year. Finally, as long as you are able to stay out of trouble for a year, the charges against you will be dismissed at the end of the probationary period. As a result, you will be able to avoid jail time and you will have no criminal record.
Additionally, the record of your arrest can potentially be expunged six (6) months after you successfully complete the conditional dismissal program.
If you are facing criminal charges in NJ, speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. To learn whether you might qualify for the conditional dismissal program in Hackensack, Parsippany, Morristown, Montclair, Clifton, New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Newark, or another municipality, contact The Tormey Law Firm today. You can always call (201)-556-1570 or fill out our online form to request a free consultation.
