Reading ARD Attorneys
Options for First-Time Offenders in Pennsylvania
If you are a first-time offender, you may be able to stay out of jail, avoid license suspension in the case of a DUI and keep your record clean. This is possible through Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. This program is a diversion program designed to keep first time offenders out of the criminal justice system. Admission into the program is approved by the district attorney in the county where you were charged.
At Emkey Law Firm in Reading, our firm helps clients apply for ARD programs. We understand what the district attorneys in each county hope to see in applications.
Our Reading DUI defense lawyers help clients apply, making sure the case is compelling and persuasive.
Eligibility for ARD
First-time offenders facing most misdemeanor charges are eligible for ARD. People who successfully completed an ARD program more than 10 years ago may also apply. In addition, people who apply and are denied may apply for reconsideration. We have successfully helped clients in all these situations.
Benefits of ARD
People seek ARD to keep criminal convictions off their records for a variety of reasons including, increasing their job prospects. They may lose their license (after a DUI charge) for as little as one month, rather than the usual one year. After successfully completing an ARD program they can honestly say that they have never been convicted of a crime.
In addition to benefiting many people charged with first-time DUIs, these programs can help people facing charges such as:
- Shoplifting
- Some traffic offenses
- Some drug possession offenses
- Disorderly conduct.
College students who make mistakes and face misdemeanor charges are often good candidates for an ARD program.
We Go the Distance for You
When choosing a lawyer to help with an ARD program, it is important to select one who will be available to you after you enter the program. Getting into the program is only the beginning; completing the program is another issue altogether. Our attorney is there for you throughout your time in the program. If problems arise that threaten your ability to complete the program successfully, we will help you. The skilled Reading DUI attorneys at Emkey Law Firm are here for you. We've got interpreters for all languages and accept most major credit cards.
Contact our office at (610) 200-6103 today to learn how we can help you get into an ARD program.
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"Thank you Attorney Emkey for your hard work. I have no doubt the outcome would have been different without you. You are truly a great attorney."- R.W.
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"He's the best attorney I've had. Would highly recommend Mr. Emkey. He won my case at the preliminary hearing and I couldn't be happier. Thanks Mr. Emkey."- J.R.
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"Attorney Emkey and his staff was very understanding, quick to respond and knowledgeable. I was comforting due to Attorney Emkey's knowledge of the laws pertaining to my case. He was informative and non-judgmental."- J.S.
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"Never met someone (let alone an attorney) so caring as Dan. You can tell the second you walk into his office that you are in the right place. He's got the nicest office around and his legal assistant was extremely polite. He cared about my family, and m"- G
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"My experience was outstanding. My case was handled as though the outcome matter to Mr. Emkey. I was thankful that someone treated me as an honest person and not as the next number at the deli counter. His efforts helped me regain a needed function of my li"- T.D.
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"Attorney Emkey is the reason why I have my freedom. He was always available to answer my questions and never made me feel like I was bothering him...a true blessing and pleasure to have as an attorney!"- D.V.
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"I definitely had a positive experience with the firm. Everyone was very professional and understanding. I appreciated the phone calls to remind me of court dates and also that I could talk to anyone if I had a problem or a concern about something. I'm very"- A.S.
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"Attorney Emkey is the reason why I have my freedom. He was always available to answer my questions and never made me feel like I was bothering him...a true blessing and pleasure to have as an attorney!"- J.W.
