---
title: "What is diversion and how do I know if I qualify?"
description: "Rhode Island's adult diversion program, run through the Attorney General's office, lets eligible first-time offenders avoid a conviction by completing a set of conditions - typically community..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/what-is-diversion-and-how-do-i-know-if-i-qualify/
date: 2026-04-21
modified: 2026-04-22
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# What is diversion and how do I know if I qualify?

Rhode Island's adult diversion program, run through the Attorney General's office, lets eligible first-time offenders avoid a conviction by completing a set of conditions - typically community service, a program fee, educational components, and staying out of trouble for a defined period. When you finish, the charge is dismissed and can be expunged. Eligibility generally requires a clean or near-clean prior record, a non-violent offense, and willingness to take responsibility. Not every shoplifting defendant qualifies, and the prosecutor has significant discretion. A Rhode Island shoplifting lawyer can evaluate eligibility, push the prosecutor to offer diversion, and negotiate the terms so they are actually completable. For many Bank & Munns clients, diversion is the difference between a permanent record and a second chance.