Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) is a diversionary program administered by the District Attorney that allows some first-time, non-violent offenders the opportunity to avoid a permanent criminal record. ARD is designed to allow people who have made mistakes by committing a non-violent crime to earn a dismissal of the charges filed against them.

Under Pennsylvania law, the District Attorney of each county decides who will be eligible for ARD and the conditions of ARD probation. For this reason the ARD application process and the conditions for eligibility differ from county to county. York County's ARD is different from other ARD programs around the Commonwealth.

Although the conditions of each defendant’s ARD probation can vary, typically you must undergo a period of probation, make restitution to the crime victim, and pay court costs plus the supervision fees associated with ARD. In most instances, the period of probation is one year but it can last up to two years. If you successfully complete the ARD program, you can file a petition to have all records of the arrest expunged (destroyed) and there will be no record whatsoever that you were charged with a crime. On the other hand, if you violate any conditions of the ARD probation you may be brought back to Court and prosecuted as if you had never been placed in the ARD program. In that case, if you are ultimately found guilty of the charges, there will be a permanent record of your conviction.

The most common crime for which persons are placed into ARD is driving-under-the-influence. ARD in DUI cases is dealt with on our website in more detail here .

A person charged with driving-under-the-influence who is accepted into ARD will receive a greatly reduced license suspension. The reduction of the license suspension varies depending on the DUI charge.

The ARD program can be a real opportunity for first time, non-violent offenders to undergo a period of probation, avoid incarceration and a criminal record. However, even first time offenders should not assume that they will automatically go into the ARD program.

Even at the early stages in the criminal process, mistakes can be made which impact upon eligibility for this program and therefore if you think you may be eligible for ARD, you should call attorney Joseph N. Gothie at (717) 848-8455 to set up a free, no-risk consultation to discuss your case.

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