Sentencing Alternatives to Jail Time

If you are facing the possibility of jail time, there are actually many sentencing alternatives that may be available to avoid any actual time behind bars. While the availability of such programs vary greatly from county to county, the following options are often possible:

1. Home Electronic Confinement – This type of sentencing requires a person to remain at home but allows you to leave to perform your normal activities such as attending work or school, court or DMV appointments, caring for dependants, or shopping for necessities. Electronic confinement can be arranged by either the probation department or a private company. There is generally a nominal cost associated with using this program.

2. CalTrans Work – This is a sentence often given in lieu of jail time. CalTrans are the crews wearing orange vests you see as you drive down the freeways in California. A court may allow a defendant to work on a CalTrans crew instead of going to jail. This can be hard work, but is often a welcome alternative to jail time.

3. Community Service Work – Similar to the CalTrans program, each court has a separate office responsible for assigning community service in lieu of jail time. An individual must be approved by the prosecutor and judge to perform community service work. Generally, 8 hours of community service for an approved community organization converts to 1 hour of jail time. Community service may also be available to pay off fines ordered by the court.

4. Work Furlough – This privileges means that during the day you are allowed to go out and work at your regular job and after work, you are required to spend the remainder of the evening back in jail. While you do remain incarcerated, this option will allow you to keep your job.

5. Private Jail - In some instances, where the judge requires that you serve actual jail time, many people choose to serve their sentence in a private jail facility. This alternative can be somewhat costly, however, in a private jail, the facilities are much nicer and work furloughs are also more likely to be available.

If you are facing a jail sentence, it is important to have an attorney on your side to explore the possibilities of alternatives to time spent in the clink. Contact the Law Offices of Scott R. Ball today for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.