Matthew J. Ruff Drug Crimes Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Drug Diversion programs allow people arrested for various drug crimes to avoid a criminal conviction.  A Drug Possession Lawyer can help determine whether the offender is eligible for relief under the statute.  In California, the law governing drug diversion is codified in Penal Code section 1000.  Offenses that are qualified include simple possession of narcotics for personal use, intoxication, and possessing needles and use tools.  Possession for sale, manufacturing, distribution crimes are all speciffically excluded from diversion.

Once a person completes a drug diversion program, he or she can have the case dismissed and removed from their record.  The time to complete the program is usually 18 months.  As part of the diversion the person will be required to attend classes and periodically drug test.  Diversion is usually only granted once in a persons lifetime.