DUI Jail Alternatives and DUI Conviction Jail Alternative
Even in the case of a conviction, it is possible for a skilled defense attorney to obtain alternatives to jail for their clients. Alternatives to jail include:
› Electronic Monitoring
› Work Release or Work Furlough
› City Jail
› Alcohol or Drug Rehabilitation
› Sober Living
Each of these options should be fully explored, and a decision reached based upon the individual facts in each case.
Electronic Monitoring: This is also known
as "House
Arrest", and involves wearing an ankle bracelet that
electronically monitors the whereabouts of the wearer.
Usually, arrangements can be made for the wearer to go
to work or school, so long as they are home by an
appointed time.
Work Release: This involves working at a site
determined by the Probation Department. The participant
works there during the day, and gets to go home at
night to sleep.
Work Furlough: This option allows the participant to
keep their own job; however, they return to a
dormitory-style facility to sleep at night. They are
released to go to work during the day.
City Jail: Also known as "private jail" or "weekend
jail." Many local police departments operate a City
Jail program. Participants check themselves in to the
police station, and usually spend the night there, to
be released sometime the following day.
Alcohol or Drug Rehabilitation: Sometimes a DUI or
drug-related arrest is merely the unfortunate symptom
of an underlying addiction issue. While this is
certainly not the case in every instance, some people
who are arrested for these types of cases can best
address alcohol or drug rehab as an alternative to jail. A skilled
defense attorney will know how to obtain this type of
relief for their clients, and try to prevail upon a judge to
allow this as an alternative to custody and fines.
Sober Living: For those that are multiple offenders,
or have a drug or alcohol problem that has not
responded to past attempts at treatment, sober living
is sometimes the best alternative. These are houses,
both for men and women, where all of the residents are
sober. The structure of each house will vary, but
residents are usually required to attend a 12-Step
meeting daily, participate in house groups and
functions, and perform a household chore. In addition
to allowing the participant to avoid a lengthy jail
stay, sober living environments have helped many
improve the quality of their lives.
If you, or someone you care about, have been arrested as the result of a problem with alcohol or drugs, please contact a DUI LAWS attorney. We'd be delighted to help.