The last two days, we have been blogging on WIT Court. But I am sure most readers are wondering; what is the benefit of being in this program anyway?

A participant is accepted into WIT Court program after pleading guilty to a non-violent criminal offense. The defendant is then sentenced to WIT court. This means that rather initially serving a sentencing in county jail or state prison, the defendant is treated with psychiatric medicine, regular court appearances and counseling through the WIT Court Program.

If the defendant successfully completes treatment then the conviction is withdrawn. But if the defendant does not successfully complete treatment then the initial sentence is reinstated.

It goes without saying that having a conviction withdrawn would be a huge relief to any person. However, such great news is not without a slight downside. The conviction remains on the participant’s record for strike purposes and must be reported if seeking government employment.

There are numerous other benefits as well. As stated in the first blog, the participants in WIT Court are provided with mental health counseling, psychiatric services, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, residential treatment, safe housing, family counseling and peer mentoring. WIT Court Participants are also assisted in accessing medical services, employment counseling, job training and placement, government benefits, and housing.

Hiring an experienced criminal defense law firm can greatly increase your chances of keeping your freedom, ensuring you receive the lowest possible sentence and possibly eliminating your criminal record. The skilled Orange County criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been helping people for over 30 years and know the benefits of participating in a collaborative court, such as WIT Court.

Please feel free to contact Wallin & Klarich to discuss your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-280-6839 or go to our website at wklaw.com for more information.