Who is eligible for the ARD Program in Bucks & Montgomery County, PA?

- In Pennsylvania, eligibility for the ARD Program depends upon a variety of factors:

 

        You are a first-time offender with no prior criminal history.

        Your charges are non-violent.

        If you previously participated in the ARD program, it must have been more than 10 years ago.

        No third party was harmed or killed if the offender was involved in a drunk driving accident.

        You have not already been convicted at trial.

        You successfully apply for admission into the ARD program within the deadline.

 

Are all crimes eligible for the ARD Program?

- If your criminal record is otherwise clean, you may be eligible for offenses such as:

 

        DUI

        Retail Theft

        Theft

        Possession of a Controlled Substance

        Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

        Criminal Mischief

        Disorderly Conduct

        And Others

 

What are the benefits of the ARD program in Pennsylvania?

- ARD is considered a diversionary program. It is an alternative to trial, to conviction, and to some of the mandatory penalties a conviction brings.

    The ARD program in Pennsylvania can help first-time offenders:

 

        Avoid jail time.

        Avoid a criminal conviction.

        Reduce a driver’s license suspension period.

        Keep your criminal record clean.

        Expungement eligibility.

 

What is the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) admission process?

- The application requirements, process and procedures for admission into the ARD program differ within each Pennsylvania County. Repko Law, LLC can help you successfully apply for the program, navigate the process and help you complete all the required steps of the ARD program:

 

        Waive your rights to a speedy trial from the date of your application for ARD until the date on which your case is finally disposed.

        Submit a completed ARD Application to the assigned Magisterial District Court.

        Submit a completed ARD Information Form with your ARD Application to the assigned Magisterial District Court.

 

    The Magisterial District Court will forward your application to the District Attorney’s office. The District Attorney will determine whether or not you are accepted into the ARD Program.

 

 

If your application for ARD is conditionally approved by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, a court hearing where you will be formally placed into the ARD program will be scheduled.

 

    If you are not accepted into the ARD program, you will receive a rejection letter and your case will be scheduled for a trial date.

    What are the conditions of the ARD program in Pennsylvania?

    Depending on the nature of the crime, the ARD program in Pennsylvania can include:

 

        A minimum of 10 hours of community service.

        Court-ordered evaluations and treatment programs.

        License suspension ranging from 0 to 2 months.

        Payments of fines & costs.

        Probation.

 

What is the Bucks County ARD Community Service Policy?

- All defendants must complete community service as part of their ARD programs. The Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department must verify community service hours.It is the responsibility of the defendant to submit a completion letter to the Bucks County Adult Probation Department for verification. This letter must be from the agency where community service hours were performed. This letter should state that the required community service hours have been fulfilled as well as the contact information for the agency’s community service program director.If community service hours have been verified as completed by the Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department, and all other ARD conditions have been fulfilled prior to the ARD court date, the defendant may be eligible for a 6-month probation period for both DUI and non-DUI offenses.

 

What happens if I fail to complete the ARD program in Pennsylvania?

- Failure to complete the ARD program in Pennsylvania can result in all the original charges being reinstated and the full penalties applied, including steep fines and jail time.

 

Can I have my record expunged after I complete the ARD program in PA?

- Yes. If you complete the ARD program successfully, you qualify for a record expungement, meaning that your criminal record will be cleared of the arrest, charges, and completion of the ARD program.Effective April 1, 2013: Upon successful completion of your ARD agreement, the Court will automatically dismiss the charges against you and your criminal record will be expunged pursuant to Rules 319 and 320 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.

 

What are the advantages of hiring Repko Law, LLC to handle my ARD?

- The criminal defense attorneys at Repko Law, LLC have decades of experience defending clients against criminal charges and have a comprehensive understanding of the laws and procedures governing the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program.The experienced ARD attorneys at Repko Law, LLC can help determine if you are eligible for the ARD program, if the ARD program is right option for you, and help you apply for admission into the ARD program as quickly, thoroughly and efficiently as possible so you can put this behind and look forward to a future unhindered by the past.