Justice Process & Intervention 
Opportunities Map  

Visit the accompanying PREZI for the online walk through of this document.

Developed by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in collaboration with William F. Ward, 
Retired Judge, Allegheny County, PA

Opportunities for 
Intervention

MEDIUM

LOW

HIGH

6 WEEKS

PRELIMINARY HEARING

(occurs within 10 days of the  
arrest, unless postponed)

Transfer out of the MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 

1

to the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

REPORTED/  
OBSERVED CRIME

INVESTIGATION

DIVERSION

SUMMONS

DIVERSION 
SUCCESSFUL 
Individual stays  
out of the  
system

HEALTHCARE  
OR BEHAVIORAL  
SETTING

*varies by county

LOCAL POLICE 
DEPARTMENT

COUNTY JAIL

ARREST/ CUSTODY

SALLY PORT

PROCESSING

[Can take up to 10 hours] 

INTERVIEW WITH PRE-TRIAL SERVICES  
AND/OR BEHAVIORAL UNIT

CHARGES FILED 
Felonies or Misdemeanors

PRELIMINARY ARRAIGNMENT

BAIL OR DETENTION HEARING

CRITICAL TIME OF INTERVENTION!

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ Offer evidence-based trainings to prepare law enforcement to interact 

and engage with individuals with Autism, I/DD or MH diagnoses

 ■ Introduce individual to police and local crisis staff
 ■ Get individual added to their county’s Special Needs Registry
 ■ Assess individual for potential risk and develop strategies to mitigate
 ■ Prepare card with emergency contacts and numbers to keep in wallet
 ■ Ensure they understand the meanings of, “you have the right to remain 

silent” and “you have the right to an attorney” 

 ■ Reduce rates of recidivism with supports for housing and employment
 ■ Teach the importance of sharing diagnoses and self disclosure
 ■ Utilize social stories as a strategy to assist in preparing for justice 

scenarios

 ■ Have individual join the PennDOT Yellow Dot program

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ Respond to crisis and/or police department
 ■ Contact emergency diversion unit, mobile crisis, or peer specialist
 ■ Encourage police to take individual to stabilization unit, walk-in service 

or respite instead of jail

 ■ Prep individual for processing phase
 ■ Contact the jail and ask them for their process for how you can stay  
up to date on the current status of the individual (website, phone 
number, etc.)

PROCESSING

 ■ Begin tracking where the individual is in the system at:  

http://inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov/#/

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ If State supports are not involved, they need to be at this level. 
Contact defense counsel so they have the appropriate contact 
information and request that you (and anyone else identified) be 
added to the individual’s visitor list

 ■ Review updates to case, including information about the defense 
counsel by locating the docket sheet: https://ujsportal.pacourts.
us/CaseSearch OR you can download the “PAeDocket” app  
*De-identify: name, MJ#, and MDJ# for consults

 ■ Engage the defense counsel in (1) identifying necessary medication 
the individual may need (2) offering helpful information for the 
interview with the Behavioral Unit (3) explain social stories as a 
strategy to assist in preparing for justice scenarios (4) inquire to 
opportunities for individual to meet judge ahead of time (5) and 
if they can request needed accommodations in court room (dim 
lights, close curtain, dress comfortable, etc.), (6) request parent or 
other adult be listed on the subpoena so they can attend hearing 
with individual (7) inform of services being put into place and 
discuss what progress is able to be made to improve outcome 
and (7) if an individual is transferring from a county to state prison, 
ensure there is proper documentation to confirm disability and 
needs prior to starting the intake process. 

 ■ Ask defense counsel if a competency evaluation is needed or 
already occurring. *Be sure to discuss completion of a Petition 
of Competency Evaluation and ARD with before the Adjudication 
phase.

PRE- SYSTEM ENTRY
COMMUNITY SERVICES/ 

THE SYSTEM
ENTRY INTO  

& PROSECUTION
PRE-TRIAL SERVICES  

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2/14/22

Justice Process & Intervention Opportunities Map

Transfer out of the MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 

to the COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT

DA (1) reviews case, (2) prepares criminal 
charges (3) and considers Accelerated 
Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)  
(ex: 1st offense for DUI)

PRETRIAL MOTIONS

CHANGE  
OF PLEA 
HEARING 
*COLLOQUY*

PLEA BARGAIN

OPEN PLEA

NO CONTEST

RIAL

VERDICT

NOT GUILTY

HUNG JURY

GUILTY

INDIVIDUAL  
GETS OUT OF  
THE SYSTEM

EXPUNGEMENT

DISMISSAL

PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION

SENTENCING/ APPEAL

APPEAL 
PROCESS

RESTITUTION

JAIL OR PRISON

FINES

PROBATION

ARD HEARING

PROBATION

IF ARD OCCURS,  
DIVERSION IS  
SUCCESSFUL  
Individual gets  
out of the  
system

IF SUCCESSFUL  
the individual may 
get out of the 
system

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ Offer to assist defense counsel in 
presentence investigation stage
 ■ Create a detailed Transition Plan and  
provide to the defense counsel for 
presentence investigation

COMPETENCY EVALUATION

DETERMINED  
INCOMPETENT

DETERMINED 
COMPETENT

RETRIALT

TREATMENT  
FOR  
COMPETENCY

POINTS OF  
INTERVENTION:
 ■ Engage with defense  
counsel to see if any  
external support is needed

 ■ Initiate an introduction  
with the social worker
 ■ Request to be apart of  
DOC treatment team

*specific to ODP system

Memorandum of  
Understanding (MOU)

Department  
of Human 
Services  
(DHS)

Department  
of Corrections  
(DOC)

APPLY FOR  
APPLICABLE  
STATE 
PROGRAMS

County Probation Department or 
PA Parole Board gets involved at this stage

OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

MAX OUTS

PAROLE

if successful

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ Within ODP system, start communication with  

DHS, DOC (MOH) and County Probation Department
 ■ Communicate with defense counsel to ensure plans  
of terms of release are planned and or established
 ■ Begin prepping necessary paperwork for release  

(ex. program intake, MA, etc.)

 ■ Secure housing and employment opportunities

POINTS OF INTERVENTION:

 ■ Contact County Assistance Office and ensure Medical Assistance 

is getting started again

 ■ Apply for applicable ODP programs, if this were not started in 

COUNTY 
ASSISTANCE  
OFFICE (CAO)

 ■ Assist in the preparation of home, medical and/or job plans for 

previous stages

release

 ■ Be mindful of individuals who experience residual trauma as a result 
of the experience and ensure strategies are in place to address it

APPLY FOR MEDICAL 
ASSISTANCE (MA)

APPLY TO 
APPLICABLE STATE 
PROGRAMS

& ADJUDICATION
PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES  

SANCTIONS
SENTENCING/ 

CORRECTIONS

RE-ENTRY
RE-INTEGRATION/