Haskell County Diversion Program
Seasonal Note: During road construction season, our office will not offer diversion for offenses occurring within construction zones. You may still seek reductions, with additional penalties being applied above and beyond the doubled fines.
Please use extreme caution when driving in construction zones, for your own safety as well as that of construction workers and other drivers. Slow down, allow a proper space cushion between your and other vehicles, and pay special attention to all signs and markers.
Please see this Press Release from KDOT
Kansas Law provides for many Defendants the possibility of deferred adjudication, or "Diversion." A diversion is an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant in which the defendant stipulates to the crime for which he or she is charged, and agrees to abide by the terms of the diversion. If the diversion is successfully completed, the case will be dismissed and the charge will not appear on the individual's record. (There are statutory exceptions for certain offenses. Please consult your attorney for more information.) If the diversion is not successfully completed, the prosecutor can use the diversion stipulation to obtain a guilty verdict. Therefore, a diversion is a double-edged sword. If a person is able to comply with the terms of diversion, he or she may avoid jail time and keep criminal charges off of his or her record; however, if a person does not abide by the terms of the diversion, the stipulation of facts will be used against the defendant at trial.
Common terms of diversion are payment of diversion fees and/or donations; court costs; notifying the prosecutor of any change in residence; and not committing any other criminal acts. In the case of a DUI, the person will also be required to obtain an alcohol and drug evaluation before being accepted on diversion and will be required to comply with any recommendations of the evaluation. In case of juvenile and young offenders, community service is often required. There may be other requirements depending on the crime charged.
If you wish to apply for diversion, you will need to plead not guilty and inform the judge that you wish to make application for diversion. The prosecutor will provide you with a diversion application that must be completed and returned to the County Attorney's Office before you leave your court appearance. (For most traffic offenses, you may also activate the diversion process in advance of your court date by contacting the Diversion Officer at 675-8441.) The judge will set a scheduling hearing several weeks after your First Appearance. If you have filed a diversion agreement prior to the scheduling date, you will not need to appear.
Diversion Fees (subject to change at any time)
- Standard diversion fees for 2018 are as follows, subject to change at any time:
- DUI (first offense only) - $100.00 fee, $150.00 donation, $750.00 minimum fine
- Misdemeanor Possession of Controlled Substance - $100.00 fee, $100.00 donation, $150.00 minimum fine
- Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - $100.00 fee, $100.00 donation, $150.00 minimum fine
- Driving While Suspended - $75.00 fee, $75.00 donation, $150.00 minimum fine
- Transporting an Open Container - $75.00 fee, $50.00 donation, $100.00 minimum fine
- Minor in Possession of Alcohol - $75.00 fee, $75.00 donation, $200.00 statutory minimum fine
- No Insurance - $75.00 fee, $75.00 donation, $300.00 statutory minimum fine
- No Driver's License - $75.00 fee, $75.00 fee, $100.00 minimum fine
- Speeding up to 11 miles over the speed limit - $75.00 fee, $75.00 donation, standard fine
- Speeding 12-15 miles over the speed limit - $100.00 fee, $100.00 donation, standard fine
- Speeding 16-20 miles over the speed limit - $100.00 fee, $150.00 donation, standard fine
- Speeding 21+ over the speed limit - no diversions will be offered
- Texting/Unlawful Use of a Handheld Communication Device While Driving - $75.00 fee, $100.00 donation, standard fine
- Other Unclassified misdemeanors - $150.00 fees/donations, nonperson crimes; $250.00 fees/donations, person crimes
- Other Class C misdemeanors - $175.00 fees/donations, nonperson crimes; $300.00 fees/donations, person crimes
- Other Class B misdemeanors - $200.00 fees/donations, nonperson crimes; $350.00 fees/donations, person crimes
- Other Class A misdemeanors - $250.00 fees/donations, nonperson crimes; $400.00 fees/donations, person crimes
The County Attorney's Office retains the right to modify any of the above diversion fees based on the particular facts of each person's case. Not all applicants will qualify for diversion. $100.00 of every diversion fee may be paid to the Haskell County Diversion Fund, while the remainder will be paid to a local nonprofit organization pre-approved by the County Attorney. An updated list can be obtained from the Diversion Officer.
There is currently no fee associated with applying for Diversion in Haskell County.
If you have questions regarding Diversion applications, process, or status, please contact the Diversion Officer Johanna Goetzinger at 620-675-8441. All applications, approved or not, are treated with urgency; however, we ask your patience during periods of high case volume.
Representatives of not-for-profit agencies and organizations in Haskell County may request to be added to the donation list by submitting a letter of request, along with a copy of their current 501(c)3 certificate, to the County Attorney, by mail.