When a person is arrested for a DUI in California, they will be jailed until they are arraigned. At the arraignment the accused with plead guilty or not guilty. They are then generally released, unless they are accused of a serious felony DUI such as hit and run involving death. However, this initial short time spent in jail will not be the only time they will spend in jail.
To learn more about how long a person who is convicted of a DUI is likely to spend in jail, and what other consequences they will suffer, keep reading. Then contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 to request a free legal consultation.
Typical Consequences for a First-Offense DUI Conviction
A person who is convicted of a first DUI, or who has not had a DUI in the past decade, will spend at least 48 hours in jail and up to six months. The time will be served in a local jail and in most cases it will be the same city the person was arrested in. The right attorney can help find the best possible results, such as a five-day work release instead of 48 hours in jail.
Typical Consequences for a Second- and Third-Offense DUI Conviction
For a person who is convicted of a second DUI, they can expect to spend more time in jail – up to a year. For the person convicted of a third DUI, they can be facing a mandatory six months in jail and up to a year. When a person is convicted of their fourth and subsequent DUIs, they can face up to three years in state prison.
Note that when it comes to four or more offenses, it does not matter when they occurred. Even if they were not in the last ten years, and even if it has been more than ten years since a person was convicted, they will be charged with a fourth DUI and all the consequences that come along with that.
Work Release is an Option for Some People Convicted of a DUI Charges
In some cases, work release is an option. This involves the convicted person working off jail time by doing something that benefits the community. For example, they can pick up trash or work with a local shelter. The purpose is not to punish the offender, as jail would do, but rather to help rehabilitate them. In can include drug or alcohol rehab, vocational training, or educational services.
To find out if this is an option for you, we recommend contacting Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055. We can review your case to determine what your options are. You can count on us to fight for the best possible outcome for your unique case.