Of course, the best way to avoid time in jail for DUI in Mississippi is to have the charges dropped. How do you improve your chances of this outcome? You contact a DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest. A lot of people facing DUI charges wait to hire an attorney, hoping that the situation will resolve on its own before they have to bring in a lawyer. This wastes valuable time.
There are a lot of defense options that may lead to dropped charges, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. These may include illegal traffic stops, violations of your constitutional rights, and insufficient evidence. However, you need an experienced attorney to use any of these to your advantage.
Get a Plea Bargain
If a complete dismissal of your charges isn’t an option for your case, a plea bargain might be the way to go. This occurs when your attorney negotiates with the prosecutor to have you plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for having your DUI charges dropped. If you plead guilty to a charge that does not require jail time, you could avoid jail time with this option. There are a lot of factors that determine whether or not this is an option for you, so it’s important to get more personalized advice from your attorney.
Supervised Probation
In Mississippi, a judge can require up to two years of supervised probation if you are convicted of driving under the influence. While this helps you stay out of jail, it does require you to make significant changes to your behavior and driving habits if you want to stay out of trouble. If you are arrested for driving under the influence while on probation, you’ll likely face much stiffer penalties.
Victim Impact Panel
In some situations, people who are convicted of DUI in Mississippi can attend a victim impact panel instead of spending time in jail. The reasoning behind this is that impaired drivers are more likely to change their unsafe behaviors if they see how those actions can truly affect others. In a victim impact panel, you might hear from someone who was permanently injured by a drunk driver, the family member of someone who died in a drunk driving crash, and others whose lives have been forever changed by impaired drivers.
The Details Matter
If you want to move on from your DUI arrest and get a fresh start, know that every detail of your case matters. There is a lot of leeway when it comes to DUI cases, so a lot comes down to the specifics of your case. For example, if you do not have a minor in the car while impaired, cause a crash, or drive impaired with a commercial license, the court may be slightly more lenient when deciding what comes next for you. However, if you do cause a crash or hit someone while impaired, expect much stiffer penalties.
When appearing in court, make sure you put your best foot forward. Dress appropriately for the severity of the situation, be respectful of the judge, and express your remorse. If you seem apathetic about your impaired driving or even make a joke of it, the judge may come down harder on you to make sure you learn your lesson. A bit of reflection and regret can go a long way in this situation.
Contact Holcomb & Russell Now
No matter what led to your DUI arrest, it’s time to talk to an attorney to find out what you should do next. The team at Holcomb & Russell is here to help you explore your options. Call us at 228-332-3902 or get in touch online to get started.
