Connecticut’s Supervised Diversionary Program (SDP)

When you’re living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental health condition, an arrest can feel like the last straw. I hear the same line in my office all the time: “This isn’t me—something snapped.” The Supervised Diversionary Program exists for exactly those situations. If you have a qualifying psychiatric disability—or you’re a veteran with a treatable mental health condition—SDP can shift the case from punishment to treatment and, if you do the work, end in a dismissal and erasure.

I help clients statewide in Connecticut use this program the right way: applying with strong documentation, following the plan, and pushing for that final dismissal.

SDP is a pretrial diversion—not a plea. You apply, get assessed, and follow a treatment-and-supervision plan created for you. Finish successfully and you can ask the court to dismiss the case and have it erased from public view. If you don’t complete it, your file is unsealed and your case goes back on the trial list.

A key advantage over Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR): SDP can be available even if you have a prior conviction, so long as the new case qualifies and you meet the program’s mental-health criteria.

The court is looking for a real, documented mental or emotional condition (other than substance abuse alone) that substantially affects your functioning and is appropriate for treatment—think major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and similar diagnoses. You’ll need actual documentation from a licensed clinician. Simply saying “I have PTSD” is not enough.

Veterans who are good candidates for treatment—often PTSD, depression or anxiety, TBI-related issues—can be routed to services through the VA, DMHAS, or private providers. Again, we’ll need records that show diagnosis and treatment readiness.

• Your charge is not one of the serious offenses listed in § 54-56e(c) (the same exclusions that block AR).
• You haven’t had SDP invoked more than once before (lifetime max is two).
• You have documented mental-health history and are amenable to treatment.
• Note: SDP is not available for DUI under § 14-227a (DUI is on the § 54-56e(c) list).

If you’re unsure where you land, I’ll review your record and the statute list with you and map out options.

We review the police report, your history, and your mental-health background. We’ll compare SDP to other options (AR, FVEP, drug education) and decide the best path.

I gather a powerful mitigation package which includes your treatment records, clinician letters, and any recent evaluations to prove diagnosis, impact, and treatment fit. This is the most important part of your application.

You apply under oath (confirming you haven’t used SDP more than once). While the court considers it, the file is sealed from public view.

CSSD notifies alleged victims. They can weigh in. I present your mitigation and treatment plan to address safety and concerns.

You meet with CSSD. They confirm eligibility and propose a tailored treatment plan—therapy, psychiatry, groups, trauma care, etc.—and identify the right service providers.

The judge hears from both sides (and any victim), reviews the plan, and decides. I connect the dots between your diagnosis, the incident, and why treatment + supervision is the right answer.

You follow the plan, check in with specialized probation, and stay arrest-free. Once complete, CSSD reports your success, and we move to dismiss and erase the case.

Most clients meet monthly with a supervising officer and attend therapy or groups. There may be medication compliance, abstinence requirements if clinically indicated, and no-contact or stay-away conditions when appropriate. The tone is supportive but structured; the goal is stabilization and forward motion—not “gotcha” technicalities.

A clean slate if you finish. A dismissal with erasure protects your record and your future.
Available even with prior convictions. Where AR shuts the door, SDP can stay open.
Real treatment. You’re seen as a person with a health problem to treat—not just a case number.

• Thin documentation. We solve this up front with strong clinician letters and recent records.
• Missed sessions. If life happens, we communicate early with CSSD and your providers to stay on track.
• Wrong program choice. Sometimes AR is simpler; sometimes SDP is the better fit. We pick strategically.

It’s a strong option if you have a clear diagnosis, a real connection between that condition and the incident, charges that aren’t on the § 54-56e(c) list, and a genuine willingness to engage in treatment. If you’re clearly innocent or AR will get you to dismissal faster with fewer strings, we’ll call that out and proceed accordingly.

I collect and organize your mental-health documentation, coordinate with your providers, prepare you for CSSD, advocate at the hearing, and stay involved while you complete the plan—then I move quickly to get your dismissal on the books.

No. It’s pretrial diversion. No plea to enter. If you complete it, we move to dismiss; if you don’t, the case returns to the trial list.

At most twice in your lifetime. You must swear you haven’t had it invoked more than once before.

No. DUI under § 14-227a is on the § 54-56e(c) exclusion list. We’ll discuss DUI-specific alternatives instead.

It varies by your plan and progress. Many cases run up to a year, but the real measure is successful completion.

There isn’t a separate program fee to the court. You may have treatment co-pays or costs depending on insurance.

After dismissal and erasure, the case is treated as if it never occurred for most standard background checks.

Victims can be heard, but that doesn’t automatically bar SDP. We present your treatment plan and safety assurances.

Tell me immediately. Often we can correct issues with CSSD before they become termination problems.

If your case is driven by mental health and you’re ready to lean into treatment, SDP can protect your record and help you stabilize. I’ve guided many clients through this program—start to finish—across Connecticut.

Call Allan F. Friedman, Criminal Lawyer, at (203) 357-5555 for a free consultation. We’ll review your charges, your diagnosis, and whether SDP is the right move for you.