The guiding principle behind the Pre-Charging Diversion Program is the idea that low-risk individuals tend to be self-correcting.  This population would most likely have positive family, employment, and social influences. Current research has revealed that introducing this population to the formal Criminal Justice System can be counterproductive and alter the individuals response to criminal behavior.

Additionally, formal intervention may expose low-risk individuals to undesirable influences by mixing them with medium and high-risk individuals in a criminal justice setting.

Program Purpose:

• Reduce Recidivism
• Preserve limited resources which can be used to re-direct matters involving medium-high risk individuals

• Participants are required to complete online coursework which covers topics involving legal and social ramifications of citations/criminal violations
• Participants must remain offense free for the duration of program
• Participants pay a program fee of $300.00
  • Payment is accepted in the form of credit or debit card, exact cash, money order, or cashier's check payable to "DA Trust Fund." No personal checks are accepted.
  • In person payments may be made at the District Attorney's Office or deposited in the dropbox outside the Government Center.
  • Payment in the form of money order or cashier's check may be sent through the mail to the District Attorney's Office. Please do not send cash payments through the mail.
  • Include your full name and note the payment is for the Diversion Program.
  • Physical and mailing address:

    District Attorney's Office
    721 Oxford Ave, Suite 2570
    Eau Claire, WI 54703

• Successful participants avoid citations/criminal charges
• Offense information will not appear on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (In some instances limited information is displayed)

• Individuals receiving University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, City of Eau Claire, or City of Altoona ordinance citations for matters which could otherwise be criminal
• Individuals subject to criminal charges who are low risk or first time offenders
• Participants are only eligible for the program one time

• Misdemeanor cases and some low level felonies, with certain exceptions
• Most common offenses: Theft, Disorderly Conduct, Retail Theft, Obstructing, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

• Cases involving major offenses
• Juvenile cases
• Traffic offenses, such as Operating While Under the Influence (OWI)
• Cases involving serious injury

Diversion Program Infographic - Published February 2020

Eau Claire County Pre-Charge Diversion Evaluation - Published December 19, 2016