New Jersey recently enacted a new law which allows for a new diversionary program in Municipal Courts known as the conditional dismissal program. It has also been referred to as “PTI in Municipal Court” because it is similar to the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program, which has been available in Superior Court for years for first time offenders facing indictable (felony) level offenses. Here are the basic requirements in order to qualify for the conditional dismissal program in New Jersey:
- Charged with a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense (not domestic violence)
- No prior criminal record
- Never used a diversionary program before (PTI, conditional discharge, or conditional dismissal)
- Arrest was after January 4, 2014.
If you meet the above requirements, you are most likely eligible for the conditional dismissal program in New Jersey. You must first plead guilty to the offense, the charges will be suspended for one (1) year, and if you are not arrested again, the charges will be dismissed at the end of the probationary period. You will have no criminal record. Also, the arrest record can be expunged six (6) months after you successfully complete the program.
For additional information, please see my Conditional Dismissal page or contact my office anytime for a free consultation at 201-556-1573.
