Program Descriptions

FELONY, MISDEMEANOR, AND VIOLATION DIVERSION PROGRAMS

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Merrimack County Diversion Program is to hold an eligible offender accountable while providing the resources, skills, and education to reduce the risk of committing crimes in the future. The program is an alternative to prosecution that offers a defendant a chance to avoid a criminal conviction and other punitive sanctions including fines, probation, and incarceration.

WHAT IS DIVERSION

The Merrimack County Diversion Program is a voluntary program for an individual charged with a criminal offense. The Individual who completes the program may avoid prosecution and potential conviction of their charge. Diversion only accepts certain types of criminal offenses and each referral must go through an assessment prior to being accepted into the program. Once accepted into the program a contract will be developed that will lists the specific requirements and obligations for each individual.

OFFENDER PROFILE

The Merrimack County Diversion Center accepts referrals from law enforcement and prosecutors from within Merrimack County and from all courts that oversee any Merrimack County cities or towns. Denial of admission to any of the programs at the Diversion Center will not be based on race, gender, sexual preference, economic status, disability, or inability to pay restitution or program fees. Referrals from outside of Merrimack County must be approved by the program director.

The Diversion Center does not accept referrals for violent crimes, domestic violence, nor sexual offender related crimes nor does it accept referrals for Driving While Intoxicated, (DWI) or related offenses.  

Exceptions may and must be approved by the program director.

MANDATED COMPONENTS

	Violation	Misdemeanor	Felony
Program Fees	$200	$450	$600
Community Service Hours	25	50/75	150
Weekly Case Management Meetings	√	√	√
Random Drug Testing	√	√	√
Inmate Discussion	√	√	√
Substance Education Class	√	√	√
High School Education	√	√	√
Employment	√	√	√
30-60 Day Progress Reviews	√	√	√
Life Skill Classes	x	0-10	20
Prime For Life Education ($30 fee)	Possible	Possible	Possible
LADC Screening/Assessment	Possible	Possible	Possible
Substance Treatment	Possible	Possible	Possible
Shoplifters Course ($41 fee)	Possible	Possible	Possible
Restitution Payments	If Applicable	If Applicable	If Applicable

Additional components may be added during the assessment phase. As examples, things like anger management, obtaining a drivers license, defensive driving classes, and parenting classes.

FIRST-TIME ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM

FAST

FAST is an acronym that stands for First time Alcohol and Drug Training which began in September of 2003 created by the former Merrimack County Attorney Daniel St. Hilaire. As a former district court prosecutor, Attorney St. Hilaire saw the need for a program that addressed the high volume of defendants using drugs and alcohol.

The FAST Program was designed to give prosecutors an alternative to the traditional system response of imposing fines to a quick referral resolution of less than 90 days while delivering quality alcohol and drug education combined with increased supervision and accountability.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of FAST is to provide alcohol and drug offenders with information and services through substance education, LADC services and other related components to reduce the risk of them committing additional alcohol and/or drug crimes in the future.

OFFENDER PROFILE

FAST accepts referrals at the discretion of the courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement within Merrimack County. Referrals from outside of Merrimack County may be accepted at the discretion of the program director. The program director also has the authority to accept or deny any types of referrals.

FAST may accept referrals that meet the following profile:

• The defendant is charged a alcohol and or drug offense

• The defendant is 16 years of age or older and the referring charges are currently in the adult criminal court

• FAST does not accept referrals for sexual and/or violent crimes or for driving under the influence of liquor and or drugs

No referral will be denied admittance into the FAST program because of race, gender, disability, sexual preference or the inability to pay the program fee.

MANDATED COMPONENTS

	FAST
Program Fees	$375
Weekly Case Management Meetings	√
Random Drug Testing	√
Inmate Discussion	√
Substance Education Class	√
LADC Screening/Assessment	Possible
Substance Treatment	Possible

 

DIAGNOSING AND TREATING ADDICTION PROGRAM

DATA

DATA is an acronym that stands for Diagnosing And Treating Addiction which began in October of 2011 created by the Merrimack County Attorney Scott Murray. As a former district court prosecutor, County Attorney Murray saw a need for a program that addressed the high volume of defendants suffering from substance misuse and or anger management issues often, individuals who are alcohol and or substance use offenders, have financial hardships which results in their inability to access services of a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. DATA offers an additional resolution while making available case management, affordable screening/assessments along with appropriate follow up counseling services to insure supervision and accountability.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of DATA is to provide defendants with affordable pre-negotiated costs for License Alcohol and Drug Counselor services, follow-up treatment, weekly case management, random drug testing.

OFFENDER PROFILE

DATA accepts referrals at the discretion of the courts, prosecutors, law enforcement and defense attorneys from within Merrimack County. The Merrimack County DATA Program may approve out of county referrals.

Race, gender, disability and/or sexual preference have no factor in admittance into the DATA Program

MANDATED COMPONENTS

	Phase I	Phase II
Program Fees	$125	$200
Weekly Case Management Meetings	√	√
Random Drug Testing	√	√
LADC Screening/Assessment	√	Completed in Phase I
Substance Treatment	x	Cost to Defendant
Anger Management Treatment	x	Cost to Defendant
Prime For Life Education	x	$30 Cost to Defendant
30-60 Day Progress Reviews	If Needed	If Needed

Additional recommendations may be added during the assessment phase. As example things like substance education class, anger management classes, obtaining a drivers license, defensive driving classes, IDIP, and parenting class.

ALL PROGRAMS OVERVIEW

	Felony	Misdemeanor	Violation	FAST	DATA Phase I	DATA Phase II	COMP	COCS
Program Fees	$600	$450	$200	$375	$125	$200	$12 Monthly	$10
Community Service Hours	150	75	25	X	X	X	Court Order	Court Order
Case Management Meetings	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√
Random Drug Testing	√	√	√	√	√	√	X	X
Inmate Discussion	√	√	√	√	X	X	X	X
Substance Education Class	√	√	√	√	X	X	X	X
High School Education	√	√	√	X	X	X	X	X
Employment	√	√	√	X	X	X	X	X
Life Skill Classes	20	0-10	X	X	X	X	X	X
30-60 Day Progress Reviews	√	√	√	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible
Prime For Life Education	Possible	Possible	Possible	√	X	Possible	X	X
LADC Screening/Assessment	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	√	X	Possible	X
Substance Treatment	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	√	Possible	X
Restitution Payments	If applicable

Additional components may be added during the assessment phase. As example things like anger management, obtaining a drivers license, defensive driving classes, and parenting classes.

Parenting Program

The Parenting Program was implemented in June of 2019 as a new initiative created by the Merrimack County Attorney, Robin Davis with the intent to supply education to families in the greater Merrimack County area.

Referrals for the Parenting Program are accepted from schools, Law Enforcement agencies, Department of Health and Human Services, Counselors and any other referral source that is approved by the Program Director.

Parenting Program Components

Total Program fee - $250 (payment plans are available)

Individual Classes - $25

10 weeks (2 hour sessions)

Random drug screens are available at no additional cost if requested by the referral source

Topics of Discussion

• Childhood Development and Nutrition (Infancy through Adolescence)
• Behavior Management (Bullying, sibling rivalry, boundaries, setting limits & communications)
• Positive Parenting
• Building Character
• Parenting Styles
• Do's and Don'ts in Co-Parenting
• Places to go & Things to do (TV, video games, social media, wants vs needs, finding fun in the community)
• Family Roles
• How to set your child up for success
• Parent self-care
• Effects of Adult Behavior on Children