Diversion program could be boon to local charity

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marion County prosecutors are giving some who broke the law a do over, offering out-of-towners who committed misdemeanors in Super Bowl Village a chance to fulfill their obligation with a donation to local charity, instead of community service.

Those visitors pleading or ruled guilty to a misdemeanor will pay a fine. But instead of the traditional requirement of community service, they can give a $100 donation to the Clothe a Cop fund. If violators decide not to donate, they will have to complete 16 hours of community service in Indianapolis.

“If you are from out of state, it’s really hard to have them give you 16 hours of community service to the east side when you live in California,” Deputy Prosecutor Allison Broviak said.

Locals also can participate in the diversion program - which clears the charge from the participant's record - but they can't get out of the 16 hours of community service.

The Clothe a Cop program is geared toward buying clothes for needy children. So far 60 people have participated in the diversion program this week. Out of that number, prosecutors said, 10 percent are people who live outside of Indiana.

“We ask them to do public service to give back to their community,” Broviak said. “If they are drunk in the neighborhood, we ask them to do community service in that neighborhood and give something back to the community they harmed. ”