Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Utah
Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Howard
Call Criminal Defense Attorney in Utah
Call Utah Criminal Lawyer
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys / Former Prosecutors
Call 801-449-1409. We fight to protect your rights.
Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer Salt Lake City

Criminal Defense Solutions Start HereSM

Finding a Felony Defense LawyerChoosing a Misdemeanor Defense LawyerDrug and Alcohol Crimes Defense LawyerWhite Collar Defense Attorney for Utah ChargesAttorney for Expungements Reductions and PardonsDefendant Constitutional Rights Criminal LawyerBail and Bond Alternatives in UtahReasons for Hope Facing Criminal Charges

Can I get a plea in abeyance in Salt Lake without doing drug court?

**NOTE: Some information in this page is now outdated. As of 2013, Salt Lake County has discontinued the ARC program. In its place, a new program called "Alternative Substance Abuse Program" (ASAP) has been initiated in the Salt Lake District Courts. For more current information on the best way to handle your Salt Lake County drug possession charge, contact Utah criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard.

Criminal charges for possession of most common street drugs in Utah are filed on the felony level. If you are charged with drug possession in Salt Lake County, a plea in abeyance is a negotiated offer that can result in a complete dismissal of your charges. In some cases, in order to get a plea in abeyance on a drug charge in Salt Lake County, you may be required to complete a drug court program. However, if your prior criminal record is minimal, you may be eligible for Salt Lake County's Alternative Resolution Court (ARC) program.

The ARC program is less intense than the drug court program. But it still requires participation in drug treatment as well as frequent drug testing (UA's) to ensure that participants are staying clean and sober. Frequent appearances before the court can be required, and sanctions can be imposed by the court if a participant is not in full compliance with the program conditions.

Drug court or the ARC program are two of the most common avenues for obtaining a plea in abeyance in a Salt Lake drug case. It may be possible in some circumstances to obtain a plea in abeyance without drug court or ARC. But often times, a prosecutor will require participation in one of these programs in exchange for State's agreement to hold the plea in abeyance.

Finding an Experienced Utah Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal Defense Attorney UtahStephen Howard is an experienced Utah criminal defense attorney. Based in Salt Lake City, he is one of only a few criminal defense attorneys in private practice in Utah with extensive experience working inside the Utah drug court system. He has negotiated plea in abeyance agreements in drug court and the ARC program for clients facing charges as serious as first-degree felony drug distribution charges. As a result of his efforts, clients who were facing the possibility of spending the rest of their lives in prison have been given the opportunity to have their cases dismissed.

If you are facing drug charges in Salt Lake or elsewhere in Utah, contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with a seasoned Salt Lake criminal defense lawyer.

RELATED CRIMINAL DEFENSE TOPICS





Best Rating
Make a Payment to Your Account
Get Help Now
Name: Email: Phone: Describe your legal needs here:
I accept the disclaimer below.
Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship is established by the use of this form. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be submitted through this form. By clicking 'submit' I am only requesting that I be contacted for the purpose of obtaining legal services.

This form protected by reCAPTCHA.

  • Selected Victories
  • Criminal Defense Trial AttorneyNot Guilty - Client was charged with aggravated assault for alleged attack using broken bottle as a weapon. Despite the testimony of numerous prosecution witnesses, thorough defense investigation to support a self-defense claim resulted in acquittal by jury at trial.
  • Criminal Appeals Defense AttorneyDismissed on Appeal - DUI case was dismissed after a successful appeal where the Utah Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's denial of the defense motion to suppress. Without the suppressed evidence, the prosecutor acknowledged that they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and the case was dismissed.
  • 402 Reduction Lawyer Utah 2-Step Reduction - Client needed a two-step reduction to bring a prior conviction to the misdemeanor level. Collection of substantial evidence of reform and rehabilitation convinced a normally reluctant prosecutor to stipulate to the defense 402 reduction motion.
  • Utah Burglary Attorney Dismissal - Client was charged with first-degree felony home burglary and facing potential life in prison. Defense analysis revealed flaws in prosecutor's case which led to abeyance agreement intended to lead to a full dismissal of the case.
Best Criminal Defense Strategy

You want the best defense. Agressive is good. But results ultimately are what really matter. Creating an effective strategy for defending against criminal prosecution requires a thorough understanding of statutes, case law, and evidentiary and procedural rules. A successful outcome is more likely when....

Strategy »
Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Profile Utah

Defending against a criminal prosecution in Utah is a job that has to be done right the first time. Choosing the right attorney to defend you can be the most important decision you make. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling some of the most serious felony and misdemeanor charges on the books in Utah. No matter what charges you are facing, we can help....

Experience »
Conviction Consequences - Utah Criminal Defense

In Utah, even a "minor" misdemeanor conviction carries the potential for jail time and significant fines. A felony conviction carries the potential of lengthy prison terms and the various consequences that come with being labeled as a convicted felon. Never plead guilty without first finding out....

Consequences »
Utah Criminal Defense Attorney - Reasons to Hope

Being charged with a crime is not the same as being convicted. But just being charged can affect more than you may have imagined - jail, job, family, bills, rent or mortgage. It can feel like everything has gone wrong, and may you wonder if anything can go right. But facing criminal prosecution does not mean giving up hope....

Reasons to Hope »
Home | Attorney Profile | Case Results | Criminal Code | FAQ | Legal Resources | Defense Strategy | Contact Us

Serving Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Cache, Tooele, Summit, Box Elder, and Wasatch Counties, and all of Utah.

Attorney Stephen Howard practices as part of the Canyons Law Group, LLC and Stephen W. Howard, PC.

Offices in Salt Lake and Davis Counties
560 South 300 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
952 S. Main St., Suite A, Layton, UT 84041

Call now to arrange for a confidential initial consultation with an experienced and effective Utah criminal defense lawyer.

In Salt Lake City, call 801-449-1409.
In Davis County, call 801-923-4345.

Stephen W. Howard, PC

The materials in this website are intended for informational purposes only, and are not legal advice. Viewing or responding to materials in this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Read Full Disclaimer.