When you have been charged with a crime, such as DUI, you may be terrified of what is to come. Could jail time be something you realistically have to face? There are numerous misdemeanors and felonies in Pennsylvania that have a jail sentence associated with them, but whether or not you have to go to prison in Pennsylvania depends on the circumstances of your crime.
Because this is a real risk, we highly encourage you to reach out to Ciccarelli Law Offices. Our West Chester criminal defense lawyers are highly committed to providing superior criminal defense services in Chester County and throughout Pennsylvania for our clients.
What Alternatives to Jail Time Exist?
In many cases, a judge can rule that jail is not the place for you to be. If that is the situation, there may be alternatives for this. For example, consider these commonly assigned penalties.
Diversion
Diversion is a commonly used alternative to prison sentences and can help some people from actually going through the criminal justice process. These programs are often designed for those facing drug or DUI charges, mental health court-related matters, and domestic violence matters. The diversion program in Pennsylvania is typically available to those who have had no more than two previous convictions and are facing at least 90 days to 1 year in prison.
House Arrest
There are some legal scenarios where the court may order house arrest instead of prison. This is typically only done in situations of non-violent crimes. House arrest requires that a person remain confined to a specific area for a stated length of time. This may be your home or another location, such as a treatment center. In this case, you will wear a GPS device on your body to track where you are. This option is typically assigned to situations where the charges are serious but may not warrant jail time.
Probation
There are other situations where the judge may rule that probation is an acceptable punishment for you. Probation may be supervised or unsupervised but should always be taken seriously. It may require that you meet specific goals and check in with your probation officer at various points. If you do not have a criminal record and are facing a misdemeanor charge, this is likely to be an option the judge can select in your case. You may still have to meet with probation officers, complete drug tests at random, and meet other goals as a part of these programs.
Community Service
There are some legal situations where the judge may order that you complete community service. This may be beneficial in non-violent cases where the situation warrants punishment but where jail time is too severe. You may have to perform unpaid work for an organization, such as a nonprofit, or for the community in some other way, such as cleaning or educational speeches. Often, a judge will base community service on the skills you have.
Allow Our Legal Team to Guide You Today
What are the alternatives to prison and jail time in Pennsylvania that may apply to your case? To find out, set up a free consultation with Ciccarelli Law Offices Now.
Contact Chester County DUI Defense Attorney
It may be possible to fight your Pennsylvania DUI charge and win, but you’ll never know if you plead guilty without first exploring your options. Ciccarelli Law Offices can review your case to determine whether the local Pennsylvania district attorney’s case has weaknesses that are open to challenge. We will prepare each case as though it is going to trial to insure preparation and thorough understanding and will take the case to trial if you are not satisfied with the resolution that is offered. We strive to be zealous advocates and always try to obtain the best results for our clients.
We are based in West Chester PA (Chester County) in Suburban Philadelphia and represent individuals charged with Drunk Driving, DUI, Driving After Imbibing cases Throughout Pennsylvania including but not limited to Philadelphia, Lancaster, Allentown, Oxford Exton Phoenixville Parkesburg Malvern Coatesville Lionville Chesterbrook Devon Newtown Square Glen Mills Pottstown Downingtown Kennett Square King of Prussia Paoli and beyond.
You deserve a West Chester Pennsylvania DUI lawyer that is available when you need him, treats you with respect, and protects your rights vigorously. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced Pennsylvania DUI Attorney at Ciccarelli Law Offices, by contacting us at (610) 692-8700 or toll free at (877) 529-2422.