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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1975)
0-! frkhy, cctofcsr 24, 1373 pijjtS"--' ' irsx-ti me offenders aet chance to d i vert lifestyle j A Lancaster County and Lincoln nro. gram has helped approximately 35 people stay out of jail in the last six weeks. The Lancaster County Pre-Trial Di version Program takes those Lancaster County residents arrested for a felony and "diverts them into a more productive life style," according to Steve McEhavy, pro gram counselor. The program, which started in Septem ber, was initiated by County Attorney Ron Lahners. According to McElravy, only people ar- rested on first-offense felonies are eligible for the program. 'This way we get people who haven't established a pattern of criminal activity," he said. Nonviolent only The felony also must be nonviolent, he said. Offenses not eligible include murder, aggravated assault, forcible rape, robbery or large drug sales. A program screener goes to the county jail, looks at arrest records and visits with prisoners to determine eligibility. - Once the person decides to participate in the program, the county attorney authorizes a release and the person goes through a two-week orientation. . Estahlsihed goals During this time, McElravy said, goals the person wants to accomplish during the program are determined; These commonly involve improvement of the person's life-style, he said, such as further education or job training. However, some goals have been unusual, he said. One girl's goal was to keep her blood pressure low. Another man wanted to get in good enough physical shape to parachute out of a plane with scuba gear on, land in a lake and swim to shore. Accomplishment of these goals de termine whether a person has successful ly completed the program. The program's length is determined by the person's goals, McElravy said, but min imum is six months and maximum length is one year. Accept responsibility The person also must accept responsibil ity for, Ihe crime. "We don't take people who are innocent. They have other avenues open to them," McElravy said. After successful completion of the pro gram, the person is discharged. The county attorney then agrees not to prosecute the person on the offense for which he was originally arrested. Thirty-five people have been officially accepted into the program, he said. Nine of these are college or post-high school stu dents and six are high school students. The oldest person in the program is in his forties, McElravy said. I' - ' i " - r - P ' - r , ,- l i - I . 4 ' i t -'"it I .7 4 e Steve McElravy, counselor. Lancaster County Pre-Trial Photo Diversion by Slav Bocrnwr Program i jitiiii'iMwmrtHMliriti-ririi-iiiriffliiin Hi-MmirinBrtrimri7itirirtikr hffliwifcrftittrt'iilitffl ffiiin'wiwniiTiiTiWrV,'ii iyaWiwwiflHim liinawif Triinnn r-irr-'irtTHTriiiiiiwiiliti ilHfciw anrtl i rin "f lil'Tr'-iiiiii iwn i mimi rTitiiiiiiiiiiiiiWMiiiii niiriiwiliiMWHwi jn n rr n'mwuM nimmM u iHW ni nprffMTm- - M - . l! ET " ' ' f -Si '1 M The most complete selection . . i ' 0 1111 ilVN of Bort Carieton's - A - ; - , - : HuM 111 : ; T31! PnUrVr ' . V; . c1--1 1 ' r-- : ; , 1 Ji) ' 'V '.. Construction leather ) V ,', tie with crepe sole. i 1 t, 1 . about $28 I i"" J v ' , ..- . I .'llflS'"iSw-", 1 - N. . -'"-v. . 0 g - ( . . f ''W -' ml -.t J , .xv '-.s- .... - 1 . i ..,., l4,&V:ua . feJ , v- . . . . y ;yjy o LJ.i.A..iLni. . . Buckle-over construction I I . ' leather slip-on. with crepe ; ; m: I ' sole. ' . ... v, I . shout $28 . I r-r - .- ' Soft leather- ' I- ' V.. tie with ..: ... . ' idfcOX&W. ; . '7 - ' .127. ' .. . . g, li a tor ; 7 ,." - : ( A (- In thi cSd . ' ' -I . .. . j fj 7l' Q-sntnf locstion .; ' ' "' ' 1 . 435-2504 ' " " ' ' J J1 Ir OP'1Vj ... ,' Rsg5t3r today I ' K!; zD . ' ' 'V for$200worth - I ! COIS it rc'a SHOES . of mdrchandisa ' fl - - ' i i . 1