Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) is a program that may be offered to first offenders who have committed minor nonviolent crimes. If accepted into the program, an individual can have their case disposed of without a formal finding of guilt. They will also have the opportunity to have their record expunged at the end of a period of probation if they complete that probation successfully. While the rules vary from county to county, ARD is generally available in Dill cases that do not involve an accident or other unusual circumstance. It may also available for offenses such as retail theft. Admission into the ARD program is discretionary. The District Attorney’s office must approve each applicant. That is why it is important that you be represented with a lawyer knowledgeable about the standards each county employs in making these decisions and can present your case must effectively to the decision maker.