Law Offices of Eric B. Morrell's Inside Guide to the PTI Process and Appeal

At the Law Offices of Eric B. Morrell, we fight diligently for our clients to enroll them into the PTI program if they are eligible. Pretrial Intervention (PTI) is a program for first-time offenders charged with non-violent crimes and provides a second chance in the form of supervisory treatment instead of formal prosecution. Ever since the legalization of marijuana, it has become more difficult for our clients to be accepted into the PTI program as prosecutors and courts are cracking down harder on other crimes non-related to marijuana charges. In addition to submitting a PTI application form, we write a detailed compelling reasons letter. This document lists reasons to demonstrate why our client should be accepted into the program. We write the Compelling Reasons Letter with our client and include resumes, letters of recommendations, awards, honors and any other supporting documents so we can show them in the best light possible. This is to convince the Judge and the State to allow the client into the program and avoid a criminal record. Even if the Judge is convinced by our client’s compelling reasons letter and allows them into the program, it may not be enough to convince the State. However this does not mean we back down and this is when we file a PTI Appeal Brief to the State’s Objection.

     When a formal objection by the State is filed, we file the PTI Appeal Brief to convince the court why the client should be accepted into PTI because they make the final decision in the matter. The appeal is similar to the Compelling Reasons letter but in addition to highlighting the client’s positive attributes, we incorporate counterarguments to the State’s factors in the objection. We send the PTI Objection by the State to our client and we usually collaborate with them to come up with factors that the State may have inappropriately considered. and to tell us what else they would like to include in the appeal besides the factors that we have. The State tries their best to show why the PTI program is not appropriate for our client. In the appeal, we point out all factors that favor our client and convince the Court that being admitted into the PTI program would benefit society. We understand that it is an arduous task that requires great effort in order to win the appeal but nevertheless we strive to do so.

    As always, we produce positive results for our clients. Our goal is to put our clients in a position for them to move on with their lives and become productive members of society. We frequently represent college students that are not able to smoothly be admitted into PTI without proper representation. Our offices have drafted many PTI Appeal Briefs for over 20 years practice of law. If you or anyone you know has a case that is eligible for PTI and you would like us to represent you, contact our law offices today at 732-249-9933.