Salt Lake County’s mayor and top prosecutor announced a new program Tuesday to keep low-level criminals out of the courts.
At a news conference, Mayor Jenny Wilson and District Attorney Sim Gill, both Democrats, said the plan would allow people with little criminal history and who commit certain nonviolent misdemeanors and even some nonviolent, low-level felonies to avoid courts by cooperating with caseworkers to address underlying issues like mental health, substance abuse or just poor life choices.
Suspects with longer criminal histories, but who otherwise would qualify for the first program, could enter into an agreement with prosecutors after criminal charges are filed.