Jail Alternatives in California DUI Cases
You or a loved one may not have to go to jail for DUI.
In the experience of our Los Angeles DUI Lawyers, jail alternatives in California DUI cases often becomes a hot topic in when the evidence against the defendant is strong or he has multiple prior offenses. Whether a DUI defendant will serve jail time for California DUI... and how much... are questions a judge has wide discretion to answer.
In a particular case, he or she makes a decision based on multiple factors, including:
- the severity of the current offense,
- how many DUI convictions a defendant already has, and
- the severity of past offenses.
"Severity" refers to issues such as blood alcohol content and how much recklessness and/or danger the defendant's DUI driving posed to others.
To be clear, California DUI convictions that involve multiple prior offenses and particularly severe DUI driving often do result in jail time. Sentences can range from two days to multiple years.
Yet this wide range shows how much power judges retain in sentencing. And even in severe cases, jail is seldom their only option. Judges can often elect to impose jail alternatives in California DUI cases.
Such alternatives may include:
- Cal-Trans roadside work;
- community service;
- electronic monitoring or house arrest;
- residence in a sober-living environment; or
- incarceration in a private facility.
Many attorneys may not even know about the jail alternatives in California DUI cases. Or they may not know the most effective ways to obtain them through negotiation or argument. That's why our Los Angeles DUI Lawyers not only recommend that people promptly consult an attorney... but an experienced attorney.