When it comes to spending time in prison, its unlikely that anyone looks forward to hearing that kind of verdict. Unfortunately, some criminal cases may give absolutely no option except prison-- but in others, there could be a much more "comfortable" opportunity available. In some situations, the judge may allow you to serve your time from the comfort of home (with a few caveats, of course). If you're currently waiting on your court date to arrive in which you're expecting your criminal case to receive a penalty of jail time, it may be time to ask your attorney if home confinement is an option:
Severity Can Determine Eligibility
As previously mentioned, some criminal cases simply aren't eligible to qualify for home confinement (also commonly known as house arrest). Simply explained, if the crime at hand was violent in nature, you're probably not going to be considered for house arrest. If however you have a previously unmarked criminal record, great employment history with no problems, and no gang connections to speak of, you could qualify to stay at home to serve your sentence.
Saving the State Money
Many ask the question: Why does the state even allow house arrest as a viable option? Why not just send everyone to prison? The truth is, sentencing someone to house arrest can save the state an average of 20,000 dollars-- so it's not hard to see why this is a good choice for them when possible. Even in the midst of that money saving reality, the court won't offer it to you unless you specifically ask for it. Talking to your attorney as soon as possible is the best way to make the possibility of house arrest a reality within your criminal case.
Not Necessarily Around the Clock
Just as certain criminal acts may exclude you from the possibility of having house arrest as an option, so there are varying levels of home confinement that can change depending on the severity of your case. On the higher end, you might be forced to stay inside of your house for the duration of your penalty-- while lower infractions may allow you to leave home during the day for work or other gatherings as long as you return by a certain curfew.
Ensuring the Law
In order to ensure that you meet the given guidelines, you'll be given an ankle bracelet that must be worn at all times during your house arrest. If you try to tamper with it, take it off, or are outside the bounds of your allowed area during certain hours, you'll find the police looking for you. By using a GPS and radio frequency technology, the status of where you are will be broadcast to the police on a constant basis. If everything you've heard and read seems agreeable, talk to attorney Cook Timothy A to see if house arrest is a possibility.
Share15 April 2015
When it comes to your personal rights, how much do you really understand the law. About ten years ago, I realized that I didn't really understand my rights when I was accused of something that I knew I didn't do. I could tell that I needed to work with a lawyer who had a better understanding of what I was up against, so I contacted a local team that could help. They were really incredible to work with, and I was impressed with how well they were able to fight the charges. This blog is here for anyone struggling with legal drama.