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Committee backs bill letting solicitors place defendants into pretrial intervention more than once
Summary
House Bill 3057 would let solicitors allow a defendant to enter pretrial intervention more than once with solicitor consent; the committee gave the bill a favorable report after members debated unlimited re-admissions, victim input, and fee implications.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to give a favorable report to House Bill 3057, which would allow a solicitor, with consent, to admit a defendant to a pretrial intervention (PTI) program more than once. The bill would retain a specific bar on repeat PTI participation for prior criminal domestic-violence convictions.
Mr. Weeks described the change as restoring solicitor discretion: "This bill would lift that bar if the solicitor consents," he said, explaining that current law generally bars repeated PTI participation but the bill mirrors language that previously passed. He also noted the bill retains a prohibition on second-time PTI for criminal domestic-violence charges.
Members raised concerns about leaving the number of PTI enrollments unlimited. Mr. Quinn asked whether unlimited PTI would defeat the program's purpose as a "one-shot" diversion. Mr. Kennedy asked whether fees would change if someone entered PTI multiple times; committee discussion noted an initial application fee of $100 and an admission fee of $250 are referenced elsewhere in statute.
Representative Rutherford and other supporters said solicitor discretion and victim objections are safeguards: "The solicitor has unfettered discretion to dismiss any and every case," Rutherford said, and added that victims can object and block PTI in many instances. Supporters argued that PTI often provides treatment and reduces recidivism compared with fines alone.
The committee agreed to give H 3057 a favorable report. The transcript shows members debated whether to cap the number of times PTI could be used and suggested that members could offer amendments on the floor to set a cap if desired.
What happened next: The bill received a favorable report from the committee and will proceed to the next legislative stage in the House.
