The Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office is in the early stages of launching a Pre-Trial Diversion (PTD) program, a forward-looking initiative designed to ease caseloads, support rehabilitation, and generate county revenue. The program is currently in development, with a target launch set for late summer 2025.
To support the initiative, the District Attorney’s Office hired a Pre-Trial Diversion Coordinator in mid-April. This new role is focused on building the framework, including policies and procedures, coordinating with local agencies, and identifying eligible case types and participants, and will ultimately lead the program once launched.
“This is a deliberate and strategic step toward modernizing how we handle certain cases,” said District Attorney Robert Busbee. “While we’re still in the setup phase, our goal is to create a diversion program that is fair, effective, and sustainable for the long term.”
Once operational, the PTD program will offer qualifying first-time and low-level offenders the opportunity to complete community service, counseling, restitution, or other requirements in lieu of prosecution. Successful participants may have their charges dismissed, avoiding the long-term consequences of a criminal record.
In addition to reducing the burden on the courts and prosecutors, the program is expected to create a new source of revenue for the counties within the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit—Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, and Screven—by recouping costs associated with participation.
“We are building this program carefully and thoughtfully,” said Busbee. “Diversion programs like this are a smart use of limited resources that also give people a chance to make things right. It’s a proactive investment in both public safety and justice reform.
As the program takes shape, the District Attorney’s Office will continue working with law enforcement, the judiciary, and community partners to ensure a successful rollout later this year.
