Hon. Verna G. Leath, JSC
Essex

Michael Roberts, Esq.
Roberts & Teeter, LLC, Somerset

This is a “how to” for attorneys who are looking to get clients accepted into the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI) prior to trial or the Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) after conviction.

PTI provides defendants, generally first-time offenders, with opportunities for alternatives to the traditional criminal justice process of ordinary prosecution. It seeks to render early rehabilitative services when such services can reasonably be expected to deter future criminal behavior. ISP is a program after conviction that is an intermediate form of punishment which permits carefully selected state prison sentenced offenders to serve the remainder of their sentence in the community rather than in prison.

Both programs focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, with the goal of providing services to defendants that deter them from committing subsequent crimes. Both have eligibility requirements and require an application. It is important for defendants and their attorneys to understand the consequences of being accepted into the programs, what their responsibilities are and what happens if they violate any of the conditions of their acceptance.

Join an experienced panel of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and program administrators including the ISP Lead Judge for Passaic County and the ISP Program Administrator as they share their knowledge and experiences. They will tell you what you need to know to in order to effectively represent your clients.