Deferred prosecution

Okay little one, sometimes when someone does something wrong, instead of immediately punishing them, the government might give them a second chance. This is called deferred prosecution.

Deferred prosecution means that the person accused of a crime agrees to follow certain rules for a period of time. These rules might include things like staying out of trouble, attending counseling or therapy, and completing community service. If the person successfully completes all of these requirements, the government might decide not to charge them with a crime.

Think of it like this: imagine you did something bad, like hitting your sister. If your parents gave you a second chance instead of punishing you right away, they might tell you that you need to be nice to your sister for a month, clean your room every day, and help with the dishes. If you do all of those things, your parents might decide not to give you a timeout or take away your toys.

Deferred prosecution works the same way for grown-ups who have done something wrong. The government wants to make sure that if they give someone a second chance, that person won’t mess up again. That’s why they set rules and requirements to help the person get back on track. If the person completes everything they are supposed to do, they might get a fresh start and not have to go to jail or pay a fine.