Outcomes
Can Mental Health Diversion Get Your Charges Dismissed? What Completion Really Means
Dismissal is the headline benefit of diversion. Here's what it covers — and what it doesn't.
Dismissal on completion
Many pretrial diversion statutes direct the court to dismiss charges when the participant completes the program satisfactorily. Some go further and treat the arrest as if it never occurred for most purposes.
What may remain
Arrest records, court files and some agency databases may still reflect the case. Certain applications — law enforcement jobs, some licenses — may still ask about arrests.
Sealing and expungement
After dismissal, many states allow the record to be sealed or expunged. Some do it automatically; others require a petition. Ask your attorney to handle this at the end of the program.
Frequently asked questions
Is dismissal guaranteed?
No. It depends on completing the program's conditions and the local statute's terms.
Talk to a mental health diversion lawyer near you
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