Sentencing Options that Achieve Results (S.O.A.R.)

The Sentencing Option that Achieves Results (SOAR) Program is a collaborate court committed to providing an alternative to incarceration through a creative blend of treatment, sanctions, and incentives to effectively address adverse behavior.

Established in 2016, the SOAR Program is an 18-to-24-month program designed to help participants address the underlying causes of their criminal conduct by providing a variety of programming and treatment services. Participants attend regularly scheduled court sessions with other program participants, two SOAR Court judges, three Assistant United States Attorneys, three Federal Defender Program Staff Attorneys, and the supervising Pretrial Services Officer (PSO), Specialist Jeffrey Arias.

The PSO oversees the daily supervision of participants and implements supervision strategies to address specific needs agreed upon by the team. Additionally, the PSO prepares status reports prior to each court session to inform the team of the participant’s achievements and struggles.

Participants who successfully complete the SOAR Program will receive one of the three possible outcomes: the dismissal of all charges, the reduction of charges to a misdemeanor, or a felony adjudication that does not require a custodial sentence.

Pretrial Diversion

The Pretrial Diversion (PTD) Program is an alternative program overseen by the U.S. Attorney’s Office that seeks to divert identified defendants from the traditional criminal justice processes. Qualifying pre- charged PTD candidates are referred by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to the Pretrial Services Office for a pre-signing interview, investigation and written report. Candidates that are confirmed appropriate for the program sign a PTD agreement, agreeing to comply with specific conditions such as supervision, travel restrictions, and restitution. PTD supervision generally lasts for six to eighteen months, starting on the date the agreement is signed by all parties.

Separate and apart are individuals who have been initially charged and subsequently enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Court and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These individuals also participate in a period of supervision with the potential to have charges dismissed at the end of the supervision period.