In this episode of Come Back With a Warrant, criminal defense attorneys Monica Ishak and Brandon Dinetz break down what happens when someone is arrested for the first time and wants the case dismissed, sealed, expunged, or removed from their record.

Monica and Brandon explain the difference between diversion, plea deals, deferred prosecution agreements, pretrial intervention, plea in pass agreements, DUI diversion, drug court, veterans court, mental health court, and other alternatives that can sometimes help a person avoid the full consequences of a criminal prosecution.

They also discuss why diversion can be a major win in a criminal case, especially when it gives a client a path to dismissal without having to take the risk of trial. But they also explain that not every diversion program works the same way. Some programs require no admission of guilt, while others may involve a plea, probation, court conditions, restitution, treatment, or a withhold of adjudication.

This episode also covers one of the most common questions criminal defense lawyers get: “Can I get this off my record?” Monica and Brandon explain the difference between expungement and sealing in Florida, why a dismissal matters, why a withhold of adjudication matters, and how a conviction can prevent someone from getting a case removed from their record.

They also talk about the frustrating reality that even when a case is dismissed, sealed, or expunged, private websites, news outlets, mugshot pages, YouTube videos, Facebook groups, and third-party companies may still keep arrest information online. In other words: sometimes the criminal case is legally gone, but the internet does not forget.

Topics Covered

Diversion in criminal cases
Deferred prosecution agreements
DPA criminal case meaning
Pretrial intervention
Plea in pass agreements
DUI diversion in Palm Beach County
Reckless driving reduction from DUI
Withhold of adjudication
Adjudication vs. withhold
Drug court diversion
Veterans court
Mental health court
Competency in criminal cases
First time offender programs
Domestic violence diversion
FTOP domestic violence cases
Restitution in diversion agreements
Community service and court costs
Theft course and anger management
Trial risk vs. diversion
Client control and plea decisions
Public defender vs. private attorney strategy
First-time arrest in Florida
How to get a case dismissed
Nolle prosequi
No file decision
Expungement in Florida
Sealing a criminal record in Florida
Difference between sealing and expungement
Can a dismissed case still show up online?
Mugshots and public records
Why arrests stay online
Private websites and criminal records
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