Changes
no edit summary
{{Template:Legal Help Guide TOC}}Police forces and Crown prosecutors sometimes choose to deal with minor criminal charges and first-time offenders outside of the court system through '''diversion''' or '''restorative justice'''. These are usually offered through local or regional community organizations.
If you are charged with a criminal offence, you may contact the Office of Crown Counsel (the government prosecutor) and ask to be considered for "diversion" or "alternative measures". In some cases, Crown Counsel may offer you these sorts of programs to you even if you don'''alternative measures'''t apply. You will be referred to a local or regional service - often a probation office - which will supervise the alternative measures. The measures will be similar to those under diversion or restorative justice.
== First steps ==