THE KAVINOKY LAW FIRM

California DUI arrests carry the possibility of jail time. Many California DUI cases can result in a significant amount of time behind bars.  It is important to recognize that every DUI case is different, and the goals of each client are different. The experienced California DUI attorneys of The Kavinoky Law Firm will listen to your needs and ensure that your goals are incorporated into your defense plan.

There are many cases where we represent innocent people who have been wrongfully accused.  For those clients, nothing short of a dismissal or a jury trial is an option. Still others are people who deserve to be acquitted, because the prosecution lacks the legally admissible evidence necessary to sustain a conviction.  There are, however, cases where the primary mission of the DUI defense lawyer is to do damage control, to do everything in their power to leverage a better settlement and create plea alternatives following a California DUI arrest. For some clients, the key is to avoid trial, and to create a settlement alternative that minimizes a client’s exposure to county jail. One such alternative to explore is the private jail, also called the city jail.

The private jail, or city jail, is typically a local police or sheriff’s station that rents out its unused jail cells to non-violent offenders.  While it is true that the defendant is still in custody, there are several advantages to private jail over time spent in county jail.

County jail can be violent and dangerous, especially for the DUI offender who is not accustomed to spending time in this kind of an environment.  City jail is an environment that is, quite simply, safer.  It is a place where one can sleep at night without being on edge or keeping one eye open.  It is a place where you will not have to fight for your food (which is substantially better than the meals served in county jail).  You will be able to bring a book, and, in some facilities, a laptop computer.  Being able to get outside for exercise or fresh air is quite common in city jail. City jail is, quite simply, as good as jail could possibly get.

These benefits do come with a price tag: city jail typically involves payment of nearly $100 a day for those who stay there.  However, for those cases where some amount of jail time is simply unavoidable due to aggravated facts, private jail may be the preferred route.

There is another downside to private jail besides the cost: city jails do not suffer from the overcrowding common in many county jails.  This means that the entire sentence will be served, unlike some county jails, where you may have to serve only 10 percent or less of your sentence.

Unfortunately, city jail is not always a ready alternative.  Many prosecutors will not agree that the accused be allowed the opportunity to serve a DUI sentence at a private or city jail, advocating instead that they must serve their time at a county facility.  Once again, here is where an experienced DUI defense lawyer will serve you well, and create options for you that help meet your needs.

If you’ve been arrested for California DUI, and want to learn about jail alternatives, call on The Kavinoky Law Firm today at 1-800-NO-CUFFS for a free consultation.