COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Attorney’s Office has launched the Step Up Program, a deferred prosecution initiative designed to reduce recidivism, promote accountability and address the underlying causes of criminal behavior through treatment and rehabilitation.
The Step Up Program provides eligible defendants charged with non-dangerous offenses an opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction by successfully completing individualized treatment and program requirements. Participants who successfully complete the program may have their charges dismissed, while those who fail to comply with program requirements return to the traditional prosecution process.
The program replaces the previous deferred prosecution model and introduces several important changes. The County Attorney’s Office now directly supervises participants and has eliminated the $75 monthly supervision fee that participants were previously required to pay.
The Step Up Program also requires greater accountability from participants—this is to ensure that lifestyle changes during the program are genuine and lasting. Participants must submit a written Statement of Facts admitting and accepting responsibility for their conduct before entering the program. Many participants will also be referred to Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), an evidence-based program that helps individuals identify and change the thinking patterns that contribute to criminal behavior.
“The goal is not simply to dismiss charges. The goal is to reduce future crime and improve the lives of participants and their families,” County Attorney Ammon Barker said. “The Step Up Program combines accountability with evidence-based treatment and removes barriers that may prevent people from successfully addressing the issues that brought them into the criminal justice system. By helping participants make lasting changes, we can improve public safety and strengthen our community.”
For more information about the Step Up Program, contact the Coconino County Attorney’s Office at 928-679-8200.