Grant County to start diversion program

EPHRATA — The Grant County court system may institute a new program for non-violent offenders to avoid court.

The Grant County Prosecutor’s office is negotiating with Friendship Diversion Services to provide an alternative sentencing option.

The company started operating in Thurston County in the late 1960s, according to their Web site.

“This is a program that has been operating in a variety of counties throughout the state of Washington for years and years,” Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee said.

When people report to the service, the organization interviews them about their employment, family, education, finances, health, drug and alcohol use, friends and any criminal history, according to the Web site. Once the interview is done, the company signs an agreement with the person including the amount of money paid for restitution, community service hours needed and the amount the person needs to pay to the company for its services.

“The benefit to the defendant is if they comply with the program, they avoid formal prosecution,” Lee said. “Victims receive restitution.”

The program won’t cost the county any money, Lee said. All costs are paid by the participants.

Lee said his office is coming up with criteria for people to take advantage of the program and expects it to be done by April.

Rafael Gonzales, the supervising public defender, said there was a similar program in Yakima, where he worked previously, and it worked well for people who didn’t want a conviction on their record.

“There was one individual who whacked his ex-wife’s car with a baseball bat in a fit of anger,” he said. “He went into diversion, did everything he was supposed to do … the case was dismissed and he could go on with no real long term impact.”

Gonzales said the man was concerned because he would have lost his military pension if he had a conviction and the system is designed for those types of crimes in general.