Deferred Prosecution Programs

Deferred Prosecution Lawyer-Working Hard for 29 Years to Obtain Results and Keep Your Record Clean

Deferred Prosecution attorney, James G. Dimeas, has spent the past 29 years representing clients charged with criminal offenses throughout Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County. Deferred Prosecution lawyer, James Dimeas, understands the stress that a criminal defendant is faced with when facing criminal charges. James Dimeas understands that a criminal conviction can have lifelong consequences that cannot be fixed easily. For most people facing criminal charges, a criminal conviction is not an option. James Dimeas has the knowledge and the experience to understand that he needs to do to thoroughly explore every possible option to avoid having a criminal conviction appear on your criminal record and background search.

The different counties in the Chicago Metropolitan Area have different Deferred Prosecution Programs, or Second Chance Programs, in place which make it possible to avoid having a criminal conviction appear on your criminal record and a subsequent background search. Each county has different programs with different requirements and different procedures which require that the lawyer you hire for your criminal case understand how these programs work and how to get you into those programs and help you successfully complete the program. Since Deferred Prosecution lawyer, James Dimeas, has devoted the past 29 years of his legal career on only handling criminal cases throughout all the courthouses in Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County, he understands how all the Deferred Prosecution Programs work and how to effectively and successfully use these Deferred Prosecution Programs to help obtain successful resolutions and outcomes for his clients who are facing criminal charges.

Cook County – Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program was started in 2011. The program allows certain defendants charged with non-violent crimes to avoid having a criminal conviction following a twelve (12) month program that seeks to avoid any future criminal behavior. If the program is successfully completed, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office will dismiss the criminal charges.

You will be eligible for this program only if you are charged with a criminal charge that provides for the possibility of probation. This includes crimes such as Retail Theft, Shoplifting, Theft, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of Cannabis, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. You will not be eligible for this program if the drug case involves the Intent to Deliver or Manufacture or if the crime is a violent offense. You will not be eligible for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program if you are charged with a Domestic Battery, Violation of an Order of Protection, or if you are charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI).

You are eligible for the Deferred Prosecution Program regardless of your age. You cannot have any prior felony conviction, no prior misdemeanor conviction for any violent offense, and can only participate in this program one time. The final decision about whether you will be allowed to participate in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program is at the sole discretion of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Once you are accepted into this program, and you agree to participate in this program, you will agree to waive your right to a Preliminary Hearing and you will also waive your right to a Speedy Trial. While you are in this program, you must agree to not violate any criminal laws, not possess a deadly weapon, not use or possess any illegal drugs, make full restitution to the victim, obtain employment, finish high school or obtain a G.E.D, undergo drug treatment and not miss any appointments with Pretrial Services and any court dates. Successful completion of all the requirements of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Deferred Prosecution Program will result in an outright dismissal of the criminal charges.

Deferred Prosecution lawyer, James Dimeas, has been able to use the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program to help countless clients facing criminal charges in Cook County avoid criminal convictions. The program is a valuable tool that can help an experienced criminal defense lawyer, like James Dimeas, provide effective representation for clients facing criminal prosecution in Chicago and Cook County. James Dimeas is familiar with all aspects of the program and knows what has to get done to get into the Deferred Prosecution Program and to successfully complete the Program.

If you are facing criminal charges in Chicago, or Cook County, you can contact Chicago criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can talk to Chicago criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, personally by calling 847-807-7405.

DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program

DuPage County criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, has been successfully handling criminal cases throughout the various courthouses and courtrooms in DuPage County for over 29 years. DuPage County criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, is intricately aware of the importance of making sure that a criminal case does not appear on a criminal background search. James Dimeas understands how criminal cases are handled in DuPage County and knows what he has to do to make sure that a DuPage criminal case, and DuPage criminal charges, do not appear on a background search and make it impossible for you to get a good job and move on with your life.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office started the Pre-Trial Diversion Program in August of 2012. The goals of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program are similar to the Diversion Programs in all of the neighboring counties. However, the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program is only available for defendants charged with a felony and not a misdemeanor. The main goal of the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program is to make it possible for criminal defendants who are charged with a felony in DuPage County to avoid jail time and avoid a criminal conviction on their record. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office created this program to make it possible for a criminal defendant charged with a felony in DuPage County to have a second chance and hope for a future that does not involve a criminal record and a felony conviction.

You only have 90 days from the date of your arrest to request to get into the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program. You will have to pay a non-refundable intake fee and then schedule and attend an Intake Interview with a representative of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. If it is determined that you meet the eligibility requirements, you will appear before a Citizens Panel that will take a vote on a decision as to whether to recommend that you participate in the program. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office will review the Citizens Panel recommendation and make a final decision as to whether you will be accepted into the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program. If you are accepted into the program, you will appear in Court and enter a guilty plea to the criminal charges. The Court will withhold judgement on your guilty plea and your case will be continued to a future date for you to complete the Diversion Program. If you do not successfully complete the Diversion Program, you will be required to return to Court, and since you already plead guilty to the criminal charges, the case will proceed to sentencing and the Court will impose a criminal sentence for your guilty plea. If you successfully complete the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program, your guilty plea will be vacated, or erased, and the criminal charges will be dismissed. You can then file a Petition to Expunge so that the criminal charges in DuPage County would not appear on a criminal background search.

While the end result of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office PreTrial Diversion Program is similar to all the other Diversion Programs, how to get into the program and how to get through the program varies from the other Diversion Programs. For one thing, the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program is a little more restrictive than the other Diversion Programs. You can get into the program if you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. But if you have ever been arrested for a felony, you will not be eligible for this program. You will not be eligible for the program if you are charged with a violent offense. You will not be eligible if you are charged with a DUI or a Domestic Battery. There are other eligibility requirements for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program that may, or may not, make it possible for you to be eligible for this Diversion Program.

If you want to know whether you are eligible for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program, or if you want to know what you have to do to get into the program and to successfully complete the DuPage County Pre-Trial Diversion Program, you can contact DuPage County criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas anytime for a free and personal confidential consultation. You can always talk to James Dimeas personally by calling 847-807-7405.

Kane County – The Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office started the Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program in 1995. It was once known as the Second Chance Program. What was once one big program has been split into 5 different Deferred Prosecution Programs depending on whether the crime you are charged with is a Felony or a Misdemeanor, whether you are charged with a Misdemeanor drug or alcohol case, Felony drug or alcohol case, a Domestic Battery, or Solicitation/Prostitution. Regardless of what you are charged with, the program works essentially the same regardless of what you are charged with.

The Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program is available to defendants who have never been convicted of a crime and are currently not on probation or Court Supervision for any crime. You will not be eligible for this program if the crime you are charged with involves the use of a weapon, if the victim is elderly, if you are currently a gang member, or are charged with a DUI in Kane County.

An application has to be made to enter the Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program. The application is usually made within the first 90 days of a case and the application can be made by the defense attorney, prosecutor, the Judge or the police department that arrested you. The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office will consult with the victim and the arresting police officer when they receive your application. If your application is accepted you will have an appointment with a representative of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office for an intake interview. You will appear in front of a panel of citizens for an interview. If the Citizen’s Panel votes to accept you into the Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program, their recommendation will be sent to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

If the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office accepts you into this program you will appear in Court and will enter a guilty plea to the criminal charges. You will be assigned a series of things that you must complete while in the program. The requirements may include restitution, community service, mental health evaluation, drug evaluation, follow all treatment recommendations, obtain employment, attend school or obtain a G.E.D., and any other requirements that will be spelled out in an Agreement that you will sign. The program requirements will vary from case to case.

Your case will be continued for a year and if you appear in Court a year later and the Court is informed that you successfully completed the terms of the Agreement, the case will be dismissed and a criminal conviction for that case will not appear on your criminal record.

Kane County criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, has been handling criminal cases in Kane County for over 29 years. James Dimeas has used the Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program for countless clients and in numerous cases. James Dimeas has a thorough understanding of how the program works and how to get you into this program. James Dimeas also understands what needs to get done to successfully complete this program. Kane County criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, has been able to use this program to avoid criminal convictions for his clients facing criminal charges in Kane County. By successfully completing this program, Mr. Dimeas’s clients have been able to keep criminal convictions off of their record and to successfully pass background searches.

If you are facing criminal charges in Kane County, you can contact Kane County criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can speak to James Dimeas personally by calling 847-807-7405.

Lake County – Alternative Prosecution Program

Last year, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that they were starting their own second chance, or deferred prosecution program. They call it the Lake County Alternative Prosecution Program and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office Pre-Trial Diversion Program. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Alternative Prosecution Program is modeled after the Kane County Deferred Prosecution Program. Once you apply to enter this program, you will pay a $70 non-refundable fee, take a drug test and meet with a representative of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. Your case will be heard by the Alternative Prosecution Citizen’s Panel. The Citizen’s Panel will make a recommendation which will ultimately have to be accepted by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. If you are accepted into the program you will be assigned a series of tasks which must be completed. Your case will be continued for a year and if you successfully complete the requirements of the program, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will dismiss the criminal charges.

Lake County criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, has been handling criminal cases throughout Lake County for over 29 years. James Dimeas understands the importance of avoiding a criminal conviction that will appear on a background search. He understands how the Lake County Alternative Prosecution Program works and understands how to get you into the program and what needs to get done to successfully complete the program.

If you are facing criminal charges in Lake County, you can contact Lake County criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can talk to Lake County criminal lawyer, James Dimeas, personally by calling 847-807-7405 .

TASC Probation in Illinois

TASC Probation is a special type of probation available to all criminal defendants in Illinois who have substance abuse issues. It is a program that is available throughout the State of Illinois and is available in all counties in the State of Illinois. In order to receive TASC probation, you must be charged with a drug-related crime. If you ask to be treated as someone who has a drug problem, you will be evaluated by a representative of the TASC program. You will not be eligible for the TASC program if you are charged with a violent crime or if you have been convicted of two or more violent crimes in the past. You will not be eligible for the TASCprogram if you are charged with a DUI.

If you are accepted into the TASC program, you will be in the program for 24 months. You will appear in court and plead guilty to the criminal charges. A conviction will not enter on your criminal case. Your case will be continued to a court date 24 months down the road. You will be required to perform at least 30 hours of community service, not allowed to possess a firearm, and not be allowed to possess or use any illegal drugs. The court will also impose additional conditions depending on your particular situation that must be completed. If you successfully complete your TASC Probation, the court will vacate, or erase, your guilty plea and a conviction will not appear on your criminal record. You will be allowed to expunge the case from your background five years after the completion of your TASC Probation if you have not picked up any new cases since then and that you are otherwise eligible to expunge your record. You may also be required to take, and pass, a drug test before you can expunge your record.

What Happens if you Do Not Successfully Complete the Second Chance/Deferred Prosecution Program?

You must successfully complete all of the requirements of your Second Chance/Alternative Prosecution/ Deferred Prosecution Program. If the Court determines that you did not successfully complete the program, the case will move to the sentencing phase. Since you pled guilty to the criminal charges when you agreed to enter the program, you will not be able to fight the criminal charges that were originally filed against you. The Court will be able to sentence you to whatever you could have been sentenced to when you plead guilty to the criminal charges and agreed to enter the Second Chance/Alternative Prosecution/Deferred Prosecution Program.

Deferred Prosecution Program attorney, James Dimeas, has a thorough understanding of how all of the Deferred Prosecution, Alternative Prosecution, and Second Chance Probation programs work. James Dimeas will always be available to answer your questions and help guide you to a successful completion of your Deferred Prosecution, Alternative Prosecution, and Second Chance Probation. James Dimeas will always be available to answer your questions and help you do whatever it takes to avoid a criminal conviction and to keep this criminal case off of your record.

Experienced and Effective Legal Representation to Avoid a Criminal Conviction and Keep Your Record Clean

Deferred Prosecution lawyer, James Dimeas, has spent the past 29 years handling criminal cases throughout Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County. Second Chance Probation attorney, James Dimeas, understands the importance of avoiding a criminal conviction that would appear on your criminal record and could be discovered in a background search. Alternative Prosecution lawyer, James Dimeas, will explore every avenue to avoid having a criminal conviction appear in a background search. Deferred Prosecution attorney, James Dimeas, has the experience handling criminal cases that gives you the best chance to avoid having a criminal conviction. James Dimeas understands how to get into Second Chance, Alternative Prosecution, and Deferred Prosecution Programs throughout Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County. James Dimeas has successfully used these programs in countless criminal cases to obtain successful outcomes for his clients.

Award Winning Criminal Defense Lawyer to Avoid Criminal Conviction

James Dimeas is a nationally-recognized, award-winning criminal defense lawyer with over-29 years of experience handling criminal cases. Recently, The America Society of Legal Advocates named James Dimeas a “Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer In the State of Illinois For the Year 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.” In 2017, Expertise named James Dimeas a “Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chicago.” Attorney and Practice Magazine gave James Dimeas the “Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney Award for Illinois,” and the “Top 10 DUI Defense Attorney” award. The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys gave James Dimeas the “Top 10 Attorney Award for the State of Illinois.”James Dimeas was been named a ‘Best DUI Attorney.” The National Trial Lawyers named James Dimeas a “Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer.” The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys named James Dimeas a “10 Best Attorney Client Satisfaction.” Criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, is rated “Superb,” 10 out of 10,” by AVVO, the leading National Organization that rates all the attorneys in the United States. The “Superb” rating is the highest rating possible by AVVO. In addition, James Dimeas is a published author, having co-written a book that instructs lawyers on how to properly and effectively represent criminal defendants charged with the crime of Identity Theft.

If you are facing criminal charges in Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County, you can contact criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can always talk to James Dimeas personally by calling him at 847-807-7405.