Adult Alternative Measures Program Alberta

The Adult Alternative Measures Program is a diversion program that allows individuals charged with minor criminal offences in Alberta to resolve their matter outside the regular court system. If accepted and successfully completed, the Crown withdraws the charges and no criminal conviction is recorded. Acceptance is at the Crown prosecutor's discretion and is not automatic. Having experienced counsel make the submission to the Crown on your behalf significantly improves the likelihood of being admitted to the program.

No. Completing AMP does not result in a criminal conviction and does not create a criminal record. AMP is not a guilty plea and is not an admission of guilt. It is an agreement to complete specific conditions in exchange for the Crown withdrawing the charges. The only qualification is that enrollment in the program may appear on high-level government security clearance checks for a period of twelve months after completion. Standard employer background checks do not reveal it.

The Crown prosecutor makes an individualized assessment of each person's eligibility based on the nature of the charge, whether the offence caused substantial harm, the accused's criminal history, and the personal circumstances surrounding the incident. There is no automatic entitlement to AMP. The Crown's initial position is not always final and experienced defence counsel regularly secures AMP referrals for clients the Crown initially viewed as ineligible by presenting the individual's circumstances effectively.

It depends on the substance and the nature of the charge. Simple possession of small amounts of cannabis or lower-schedule substances is frequently considered for AMP. Possession of more serious substances such as cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl is treated more strictly by prosecutors and the Crown's initial position is more often to decline diversion. That initial position is not always final. Our office has secured AMP outcomes for clients in drug matters where the Crown had initially declined, by presenting the client's circumstances and demonstrating why diversion serves the interests of justice in their specific situation.

The conditions in an Alternative Measures Agreement are specific to your charges and circumstances. Common conditions include community service hours, a donation to a registered charity, a written or personal apology to the affected person, restitution or return of property, and in some cases enrollment in counselling relevant to the circumstances of the offence. The conditions are designed to be proportionate to the nature of what occurred and achievable within a reasonable timeframe.

The Crown's initial assessment is not final. Our team regularly presents additional information about a client's circumstances, background, and the context of the incident that causes the Crown to reconsider an initial refusal. If the Crown will not agree to AMP after a full submission on your behalf, we then focus on achieving the strongest possible outcome at trial or through negotiated resolution. AMP is one avenue to avoiding a criminal record, but it is not the only one.

No. Accepting the Alternative Measures Program is not an admission of guilt and is not a finding of guilt by a court. It is a diversion mechanism that allows the matter to be resolved outside the court system. The charges are withdrawn upon successful completion. No conviction is recorded and no guilty finding is made at any stage of the AMP process.

The timeline depends on the specific conditions in your Alternative Measures Agreement and how quickly they can be completed. Most clients complete their AMP conditions within three to six months of being accepted into the program. Once conditions are completed and confirmed, the Crown withdraws the charges and the matter is closed.