A prayer for judgment continued (PJC) is a procedure that may be available in traffic ticket court to allow a person who has received a traffic ticket or citation to avoid some or all of fines, penalties, and other consequences.

A PJC essentially allows the driver to plead guilty to the infraction or offense (or to be convicted by the judge or jury) and for the court/judge to continue the judgment or final effect of the guilty plea or conviction indefinitely—allowing the driver to avoid large fines, penalty points added to their driver’s license or record, increased insurance premiums, and possible suspension of their driver’s license.

In this context, a prayer is a request by the prosecutor/government to enter judgment (a final decision or determination) against the driver based on their guilty plea, and for the judge to indefinitely continue or postpone the entry of judgment, which prevents it from becoming final and effective.

Laws vary from state to state and in states where a PJC is an option, it is limited and in the judge’s discretion—a driver or household may only be allowed one PJC every few years, for example. But if a driver receives a more serious ticket or citation (with a significant fine or penalty points) and is unable to get it dismissed or reduced to a lesser infraction or offense, a PJC may be an option. A driver who gets a PJC may still be required to pay court costs, for example, as they are not classified as a penalty.

In the state of Missouri, the concept of a 'Prayer for Judgment Continued' (PJC) is not recognized in the same manner as it may be in other states, such as North Carolina where it is more commonly used. Missouri law does not have a provision for indefinitely postponing the final judgment of a traffic violation in the way described by a PJC. Instead, Missouri courts may offer alternative measures such as plea bargaining, attending a driver improvement program, or receiving a Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS) for certain offenses, which allows the defendant to be placed on probation without a conviction being entered. If the defendant successfully completes probation, the charge may be dismissed. However, these alternatives are subject to the discretion of the court and the specific circumstances of the case. It is important for drivers in Missouri to consult with an attorney to understand the options available for their particular traffic ticket or citation and the potential consequences.