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Alternatives to Conviction (U-ACT)

Program Overview

Participants in Utah Alternatives to Conviction Track (U-ACT) must be individuals who have been charged in the District of Utah, in a criminal charging instrument presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office.  Participants will be selected by the U-ACT selection committee.  Participants will be in U-ACT for a minimum of 12 months, although the term of involvement may be extended as necessary to a maximum of 24 months.  During their time in the program, participants will engage in a variety of programs to address underlying causes of their criminal conduct, and will attend regularly scheduled court proceedings that will include reports on their progress in the program. Failure to abide by the mandates of U-ACT may result in a participant being terminated from the program and sentenced without receiving the benefits specified in the participant’s plea agreement.  U-ACT is voluntary for its participants, who will be required to complete the following before beginning the program:

  • Enter into a U-ACT contract pursuant to which they agree to participate in the program and abide by the governing terms of the program as set forth in the contract.
  • Enter a guilty plea to one or more counts pursuant to a plea agreement that specifies the benefits to be received upon successful completion of U-ACT.
  • Participate in U-ACT, including attending court hearings and completing assignments.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, Group I participants will be allowed to withdraw their guilty plea.  The USAO will then move to dismiss the indictment.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, Group II participants will be sentenced to a term of probation.
  • Failure to successfully complete the program will result in the imposition of sentence as agreed upon in a plea agreement entered into at the beginning of the program.

For additional information about the U-ACT Program, please contact U.S. Probation Officer Greg Petersen at 801.535.2778.