In certain circumstances, a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense attorney may be able to present alternative punishments for someone convicted of a DUI that are more appropriate and more beneficial than jail time. Several alternative arrangements exist that a judge in his or her discretion may select as punishment for driving under the influence.

These include:

Electronic Monitoring

Where an individual receives “electronic monitoring,” a device is placed on his or her ankle that alerts law enforcement officials if court imposed restrictions are violated.

Electronic monitoring gives you the freedom to go to work or school, but limits the times you may leave your house and the places you may travel. Electronic monitoring doesn’t specifically track where you go, rather it determines whether you are home when you should be and notifies authorities when violations occur.

Drug/Alcohol Treatment Facilities

Often, those charged with DUI have substance abuse issues. In many of these cases, judges sentence defendants to treatment in a rehabilitation program instead of jail.

Work Furlough

Work furlough programs required those convicted of DUIs to stay at court-sanctioned facilities at night, but allows you to continue working at your present job during the day.

Work Release

Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 4024.2, in certain circumstance those convicted of DUIs may participate in work release programs in which one day of work takes the place of one day in jail. The jobs may include manual labor, graffiti cleanup, weed and rubbish abatement and home repairs and yard work for senior citizens. In work-release programs, you are able to stay at your own house a night.

Sober Living Houses

Sober living homes may serve as another alternative available to individuals in place of jail time. Sober living homes provide a transitional living environment for those with abuse and addiction issues to receive treatment while continuing to work and care for themselves. Participation in a drug or rehabilitation program at a sober living home may count toward fines assessed as a result of your DUI or toward jail time.

Southern California DUI Defense Attorneys

If you’ve been convicted of a DUI, several alternatives to jail time exist. An experience Los Angeles DUI defense attorney can advocate on your behalf to seek an alternative punishment where appropriate. If you’ve been arrested for a drunk driving offense in California, contact The Chahine Law Firm at 1-800-950-7755 for a free consultation.