One bad decision. No prior record. If that’s your situation, the Collin County Burden to Blessing Pretrial Diversion Program might be the most important thing you read today.
Complete the program and the charge gets dismissed. After that, you can have the entire arrest expunged — every record, every file, gone. You get the legal right to say it never happened. That’s the best outcome available in a criminal case short of a not-guilty verdict.
But this program has real conditions, real fees, and a document you’ll be asked to sign that most people don’t fully understand before they put their name on it. I’m going to walk you through all of it.
What Is the Collin County Burden to Blessing Program?
The Collin County Burden to Blessing Pretrial Diversion Program — usually just called PTD — is an agreement between you and the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. The DA agrees to dismiss your charge if you successfully complete a period of supervision. You agree to meet a set of conditions during that time.
The program has been running since 2011. It’s designed for first-time and nonviolent offenders — people who made a mistake, not a pattern. Supervision is handled by the Collin County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD). When you’re done, the DA files a motion to dismiss. Then you can petition for a full expunction of your arrest record.
That last part matters. This isn’t deferred adjudication — where the charge stays on your record unless you later get a non-disclosure. PTD, completed successfully, makes you eligible for a complete expunction. The arrest, the prosecution, the court case — all of it can be wiped clean.
Who Qualifies — and Who Doesn’t
Not everyone who’s been charged with a crime in Collin County is eligible. Here’s what the DA’s office looks for:
- No prior adult felony convictions
- No prior convictions for violent misdemeanors
- Charged with an offense in Collin County
- Represented by an attorney — the DA will not process an application without one
- Application submitted within 30 days of hiring representation
- Able to pass a drug test at screening
If you’re under 25 and have an extensive juvenile record showing a pattern of disregard for the law, you may be disqualified — though exceptions can be approved by the Diversion Prosecutor on a case-by-case basis.
Offenses That Are Not Eligible
Certain charges are excluded from PTD entirely. If you’ve been charged with any of the following, the program is not available to you:
- DWI or any intoxication-related driving offense
- Violent crimes
- Domestic violence
- Sexual offenses
- Child abuse or neglect
- Weapons charges
- Any offense that arose from the same transaction as an ineligible charge
If your charge isn’t on that list, call me. I’ll tell you quickly whether PTD is a realistic path.
What You’re Agreeing To
PTD is not a free pass. It’s a supervised program with real conditions. Here’s what the actual agreement requires.
Duration
Up to 12 months for a misdemeanor. Up to 24 months for a felony.
Fees
- $500 program fee — non-refundable, paid to CSCD by your orientation date. Can be waived if you’re determined to be indigent.
- $60/month supervision fee — paid to CSCD throughout the program. This fee cannot be waived.
- Restitution — if you owe restitution to a victim, it must be paid in full by your orientation date.
- Class and drug testing fees — additional costs depending on your offense and what your supervision officer requires.
Classes
- Super Saturday: Framing New Horizons — a mandatory one-day life skills class run by Pivot Talent Group. Completing it waives 40 hours of your community service requirement.
- Offense-specific classes — determined by your supervision officer based on your charge.
- 5 Night Re-Write: Scaling New Horizons — an optional career design workshop. If you complete it, another 40 hours of community service are waived.
Community Service
80 hours for a misdemeanor. 120 hours for a felony. You must complete at least 10 hours per month. All hours must be completed at a CSCD-approved location in Collin County.
Between Super Saturday (mandatory, waives 40 hours) and the 5 Night Re-Write (optional, waives another 40), you can reduce your community service requirement significantly — potentially down to zero for a misdemeanor if you complete both.
Ongoing Conditions
- Report to your supervision officer every month
- Report any change of address or employment within 48 hours
- No alcohol, marijuana, or controlled substances (unless prescribed by a treating physician)
- Submit to random drug testing; pay the testing fee
- No new arrests — report any law enforcement contact within 24 hours
- Maintain steady employment or stay enrolled in school
- No firearms or illegal weapons
- Valid driver’s license and liability insurance at all times
Before You Sign: The Sworn Statement
Part of the PTD application is a sworn statement — a factual account of what happened. It has to be consistent with guilt. If it isn’t, your application gets rejected. And if you’re admitted to the program but later removed for violating its conditions, that statement can and will be used as evidence against you in prosecution. This is not buried in the fine print. It’s spelled out clearly in the agreement. I go through the entire document with every client before anything gets signed.
What Happens If You Complete the Program
The DA files a motion to dismiss your charge. Once dismissed, you can file a petition for expunction. A successful expunction removes the arrest, the prosecution, and all court records from your file. You have the legal right to deny the arrest ever occurred — on job applications, housing applications, everywhere.
This is the outcome. Complete the program, and it’s as if it never happened.
What Happens If You Don’t
If you violate the conditions of PTD, the Diversion Prosecutor removes you from the program. Your charge is fully prosecuted. And the sworn statement you signed during the application process — the factual admission of guilt — can be used as evidence against you at trial.
I’ve seen people treat PTD casually, like it’s just paperwork and a few check-ins. It’s not. The conditions are real. The consequences of noncompliance are real. I make sure every client I work with understands what they’re getting into before we submit the application.
How I Help With This
The DA’s office will not process a PTD application without an attorney. That’s not optional. But beyond satisfying that requirement, there’s real work involved in putting together a strong application.
I know what the DA’s office is looking for and how to present your situation in the best light. I review the sworn statement with you before you sign it — because once you sign it, it exists. I walk you through every condition so you know exactly what you’re committing to. And I make sure your application is submitted within that 30-day window, because missing it can cost you the opportunity entirely.
If you’re not sure whether you qualify, call me. I’ll give you a straight answer.
What is the Collin County Burden to Blessing Pretrial Diversion Program?
It’s a program run by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office that allows first-time and nonviolent offenders to avoid a criminal conviction. You complete a period of supervised conditions, the DA dismisses your charge, and you become eligible for a full expunction of your arrest record. It was established in 2011 and is one of the best outcomes available in a Collin County criminal case.
Who is eligible for the Collin County PTD program?
Generally, first-time offenders with no prior adult felony convictions and no prior violent misdemeanor convictions who are charged with an eligible offense in Collin County. You must have an attorney, and the application has to be submitted within 30 days of hiring one. A drug screening is also required.
What offenses are not eligible for PTD?
DWI, violent crimes, domestic violence, sexual offenses, child abuse or neglect, and weapons charges are all excluded. Any charge that arose from the same transaction as one of these disqualifying offenses is also excluded. If your charge doesn’t fall into one of those categories, call me and I’ll tell you if PTD is a realistic option.
How long does the program last?
Up to 12 months for a misdemeanor, up to 24 months for a felony. From the time of arrest to being admitted into the program, you’re typically looking at 4–5 months for a misdemeanor and 5–6 months for a felony.
What does the Collin County PTD program cost?
A $500 non-refundable program fee due by your orientation date (waivable if you’re indigent), $60 per month in supervision fees that cannot be waived, any restitution owed paid in full by orientation, and additional fees for classes and drug testing. Budget accordingly — these costs add up over the course of the program.
What is the sworn statement, and why does it matter?
As part of the PTD application, you submit a sworn statement — a factual account of what happened that must be consistent with guilt. If you’re later removed from the program for violating its conditions, that statement can be used as evidence against you in prosecution. It’s not something to sign without reviewing carefully with your attorney first.
What happens if I’m removed from the PTD program?
Your charge is fully prosecuted by the DA’s office. The sworn statement you signed during the application process can be used as evidence against you. This is why taking every condition of the program seriously matters — removal has real consequences.
If I complete the program, can I get my record expunged?
Yes. Successful completion makes you eligible to petition for a full expunction — the arrest, prosecution, and all court records. After expunction, you have the legal right to deny the arrest ever occurred. This is what makes PTD different from deferred adjudication: there’s a clear path to a completely clean record.
Serving All of Collin County
I defend clients throughout Collin County, including:
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