SB221 Summary

• Authorizes the District Attorney of the Thirty-ninth Judicial Circuit (Limestone County) to establish a discretionary pretrial diversion program allowing offenders to have charges reduced, dismissed, or mitigated upon completion of specified conditions.

• Prohibits participation for offenders charged with Class A felonies, capital offenses, crimes involving death or serious physical injury, deadly weapons, crimes against children under 14, law enforcement officers, school employees, trafficking, repeat DUI offenses with blood alcohol content greater than .15%, bribery, and certain traffic violations.

• Requires written agreements between district attorney and offender including waiver of speedy trial and jury trial rights, restitution obligations, substance abuse treatment, education requirements, employment maintenance, and prohibition on leaving Alabama without consent.

• Establishes application fees collected by court clerks and allocated as follows: 10% to circuit/district court clerk, 5% each to Limestone County Children's Advocacy Center and Family Resource Center, and remainder to District Attorney's Solicitor's Fund for law enforcement purposes; fees may be waived or reduced for indigent offenders.

• Upon successful program completion, the district attorney requests case dismissal and offender discharge; termination results in guilty plea acceptance and sentencing; all court costs, fees, and restitution remain due regardless of program outcome.