Monterey County DA’s office expands program that gives low level offenders a second chance

Those charged with low-level crimes in Monterey County may be more likely now to get a second chance.

This week the District Attorney’s office said it’s expanding the Pre-filing Misdemeanor Diversion Program.

The program started five years ago and it basically sends low level offenders to a place where they can get resources that help with rehabilitation.

Authorities say it’s been so successful, they want to offer it to more people.

“They commit a low-level offense, they get an opportunity to get some education and not re-offend, that’s the goal,” said Assistant District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni, “That they don’t end up with a criminal record, they don’t end up in the criminal justice system and when their future comes around and they’re trying to interview for a job and someone says ‘Have you ever been convicted of an offense’ that the honest answer will be no.”

Pacioni says the program isn’t for everyone. Those with prior felony convictions, two or more misdemeanor convictions or pending criminal charges aren’t eligible.

“This is for an entry level, ‘oops, messed up’, committed a crime, probably won’t do it again type of offender,” Pacioni said.

Now more offenders like that will have the opportunity to turn things around.

The program that started back in April of 2013 has added ten more crimes that qualify.

“A lot of them involving minors in possession of alcohol or an adult providing a minor with alcohol in a very low level way,” Pacioni said, “Some certain driving offenses and low level theft offenses.”

After a year of developing the expanded program, the DA’s office is hopeful it’ll have a positive community impact.

“Our goal is to redirect people out of the criminal justice system so that we can actually focus our resources on those bad actors that are the truly violent, the truly serious offenders and this is one way to do it,” Pacioni said.

A private company that works with other county DAs monitors the education and drug treatment.

Offenders do pay a fee to them for that service.

If they don’t complete the program or fall out of it, they’re sent back to the DAs office to face possible prosecution.