The District Attorney’s Office announces changes to its criminal diversion program and the introduction of a new pre-file diversion program.

While diversion has been offered for years as a method of conviction avoidance for a person charged with a lower-level crime, the office is now implementing extensive updates to the diversion policy.  The policy is being overhauled both to expand the reach of the current program and to ensure fees do not limit access to diversion by people who may be experiencing financial instability. 

A tentative date of June 4, 2018 has been established to close Route 458 (N 1000 Road) from E 1800 Road to Route 1057 (E 1900 Road) for the start of a project to improve roadside safety.  Both E 1800 Road and Route 1057 will remain open for north-south traffic.  The full project is two miles long on Route 458 from E 1800 Road to E 2000 Road, but only the west mile of the project will be closed initially.  The east mile of the project will be closed later this summer.

Route 458 from E 800 Road to just north of N 1156 Road will open to motor vehicle traffic through construction by 8:00 PM, Friday, April 27.  The full road closure that has been in place between N 1050 Road and N 1116 Road has been removed.  Bicycle traffic is still prohibited throughout the project length. Side roads N 1075 Road and E 1135 Road have also been opened to traffic.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today that on Friday, April 13 the office received a default judgement against contractor John Shively, doing business as J&R Remodeling.  This judgement includes $5,925 in restitution, a $10,000 civil penalty for violating the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and all court costs associated with the action.  Additionally, Shively is restrained from acting as a supplier in Douglas County under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. 

Douglas County Counselor states that petition may not be able to force an election

LAWRENCE, KS (April 20, 2018) –After issuing the April 16 advisory opinion to Justice Matters on the legality of the petition, the County Counselor was subsequently asked to consider whether the petition can lawfully seek a referendum election to increase the County property tax levy.

Douglas County Counselor outlines several issues with submitted petition as currently written

LAWRENCE, KS (April 16, 2018) – Justice Matters authored a petition that would seek to place a question on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot. They presented this petition to the Douglas County Counselor for legal review as provided by Kansas statutes.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that today a jury convicted Lawrence resident Michael L. Henderson, 38, of electronic solicitation.

Beginning Wednesday morning, April 11, 2018, pavement rehabilitation work will commence on Route 1023 (N 851 Diag Road) from N 950 Road to the Route 1023/Route 458/Route 6 intersection.  The pavement will be milled and patched prior to receiving an overlay of new asphalt pavement.  One lane of traffic will be open through construction, and will be controlled by flaggers.  The rehabilitation work for this road segment is anticipated to take two weeks duration, weather permitting.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Kansas City, Kansas resident Pierre P.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces the Douglas County Women’s Substance Use Disorder Prosecutor-Led Diversion and Treatment Program (WDP) is ready to accept its first referrals and participants.  The DA’s Office is launching the program this month and will accept a total of 8-12 participants annually.  The goal of the program is to reduce justice system involvement by non-violent, female offenders with substance use disorders through engagement in comprehensive substance abuse treatment.  Diversion to substance abuse treatment can reduce substance use,

Monday's Tips:

1. National Consumer Protection Week is March 4 – 10.  This week is a time to help people understand their consumer rights and make well informed-information decisions.  We will be providing you with daily tips on how to choose a home contractor.

2. As weather warms up, how do you choose a reputable contractor for all those decks and additions you are building this summer?  For more information, contact us at 785-842-0211 or via e-mail at DAConsumer@dgcoks.gov.

Construction will resume March 12, 2018 on the Route 458 major rehabilitation project from E 800 Road to just north of N 1156 Road.  Weather permitting, on March 12 Douglas County’s contractor, King’s Construction, will close Route 458 between N 1050 Road and N 1116 Road for construction of two large culverts near the Route 458/N 1075 Road intersection.  During the Route 458 closure, N 1075 Road and E 1135 Road will be closed to through traffic between E 1000 Road and N 1200 Road.  We anticipate these closures will remain in place for six to eight weeks, weather permitting.