Pennsylvania's ARD program, which stands for "Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition," allows first-time offenders to enter a specialized program without pleading guilty to the charges against them. The designated rehabilitation and punishment varies for each of those admitted to the program, but all are promised the chance to have their record expunged upon its completion.

However, not everyone is happy with the system as it currently stands.

The ARD program is meant predominantly for non-violent offenders, many of whom were arrested for DUI-related offenses. Still, some have claimed that the justice system allows too many accused of violent crimes into the program, such as a former college basketball player who was charged with assault in 2007.

Many of these individuals have argued that certain cases should be treated as a "one-and-done" opportunities. Currently, DUI offenders are not allowed to enter the ARD program if they've already completed it once.

Some legislators have opined that this stipulation should extend to all ARD applicants and want the Pennsylvania justice system to "make it clear that if you get into ARD, your first offense is your last first offense."

That means that once you've completed ARD, you cannot go through it again. It also means that, even if your record was expunged following completion of ARD - if you are charged again, a conviction would be considered your second offense.

There has also been a call for harsher punishment to be levied against entrants to the ARD program. Though ARD entrants are not technically considered guilty, such an increase in punishment would seem to assume that guilt to a large extent.

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