Prosecutor Ordered

Misdemeanor

Diversion Programs

PES provides misdemeanor diversion programs in 14 counties. PES is the largest provider of misdemeanor diversion programs in California.

PES clients include both small and large counties and we have the capacity to handle very large caseloads or process small groups of offenders in relatively rural settings.

These misdemeanor diversion programs substantially reduce recidivism, and thus improve public safety.

Program Description

These programs are provided in a post plea or pre – file format.

The defendant’s eligibility and suitability for the program are at the sole discretion of the prosecutor’s office.

Programs are typically 90 days in duration during which time the defendant must pay his/her program fees, any administrative fees due to the prosecutor’s office, restitution (if applicable) and attend a PES class.

PES collects the class fees and administrative fees of the program and establishes, if necessary, payment plans for the defendants.

Defendants can attend classes in the county in which they were convicted or other counties where PES holds classes, if that is more convenient for the defendant.

The classes are:

  • Live
  • 6 hours in duration
  • Evidence-based
  • Offered on weekends (generally)
  • Regularly held in both English and Spanish

Topics available are:

  • Theft and Property Violations
  • Life Skills
  • Drug and Alcohol Education
  • Anger Management
  • Victim Impact
  • Driving Violations (PC 14601.1 and VC 12500 violations)

Enrollment

PES receives all referrals electronically and:

  • Can provide the referring office electronic notices of completions or terminations
  • Has a web based enrollment, payment and scheduling system for the convenience of defendants in the program.

Administration

PES does all of the administration for the programs and:

  • Is committed to monitoring and reporting about the defendants in the program.
  • Will follow the progress of the defendants through the misdemeanor diversion
  • Employs a proprietary computer software program which monitors the defendants’ progress through the program assimilating enrollment information, payment progress, scheduling, restitution, completions and/or terminations.
  • Will monitor the community service of defendants, if such service is required.
  • Will monitor and collect restitution from defendants, if required.

Staff is trained to assure that the administration of the program is timely and accurate. PES is very aware of being timely and communicative with prosecutors’ administrators.

PES will be available to the prosecutor, at no cost, to train prosecutors’ attorneys, staff and legal interns on the operation of the program and the benefits of classes.

PES will provide to the prosecutor, on a quarterly basis, such information about the program as the prosecutor may require.

Typically, PES provides information on:

  • Referrals
  • Open enrollments
  • Completion summary
  • Termination summary
  • Summary of diversion fees
  • Report on referrals by violation

Other reports shows the number of referrals, the violations which are referred and the classes in which the defendants are placed.