AL HB686

City of Pelham authorized to establish a discretionary pretrial diversion program for defendants in municipal court jurisdiction.

Program administered under direct city supervision and control; city may contract with agencies or employ personnel to manage program operations.

Admission requires municipal court judge approval upon application by offender and city prosecutor recommendation; offenders deemed community threats or those charged with violence, eluding police, weapon-involved crimes, or serious DUI injuries are ineligible without victim consent.

Offenders must pay nonrefundable application fees ($1,000 for misdemeanors/DUI, $500 for traffic offenses, $300 for violations) plus supervision fees; fees may be waived for indigent defendants.

Participants must enter written agreement including guilty plea, waiver of speedy and jury trials, restitution terms, and various conditions such as substance abuse treatment, employment maintenance, counseling, and drug testing; program completion results in charge dismissal, while termination allows judge to impose full sentence without limitation.