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What is the ARD program? And what all is involved if you do it and it wasn't for drugs or alcohol?
Anonymous6 views3 answers
I'm being charged with falsify information to purchase a gun. I lied on the application. It asked if you were ever committed to a state mental institution which I didn't think that mental health counted because it wasn't a state run mental institution it was just a part of the hospital. Torrance is the state mental facility not Altoona hospital behavioral health. So I really didn't believe the answer to be true. So now I'm being charged with a felony and someone mentioned the ARD program. I thought that was just for drug or alcohol related charges.
Consult with an attorney from Altoona. You may be eligible for ARD in your county. ARD is usually offered to first time offenders accused of misdemeanor crimes. First time drugs offenses are only one of the types of offenses that could lead to ARD. Before you apply for ARD have an attorney review your case. ARD, if completed successfully, could result in no criminal record at the end of the ARD probtion. Ask an attorney about thi and ask him or her about the costs of ARD. GOOD LUCK.
Today is Christmas Day. We can all understand that you are confused. However, YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY. Pose your questions to your attorney. He or she is in the best position to help you. The attorneys who participate on do so voluntarily in an effort to provide help to those without attorneys. Please respect our service to the community and stop posting here. Thank you.
ARD stands for alternative rehabilitative disposition. It's a "diversionary" program that removes certain people in certain cases from the ordinary criminal justice process. It's benefits include no conviction as there is no guilty plea or sentencing. There is usually a period of supervision akin to probation with travel, work, alcohol and other terms as set by the District Attorney.
Your friendly neighborhood District Attorney decides who gets ARD and who does not. It is most commonly granted in first-offense DUI cases after application by the pro se defendant or the attorney for the defendant.
If the charge is, in fact, a felony, you may reduce the charge to a misdemeanor at the Preliminary Hearing and make application for ARD. Typically, ARD is not granted in felony cases both as a matter of public policy and as a matter of potential embarrassment for the publicly-elected District Attorney if such leniency were to come to light.
Your privately retained or court appointed Attorney will be able to help you decide if/how to proceed.
