DUI Jail in Prince William County

After a person is arrested for driving under the influence, they would be taken to DUI jail in Prince William County. It is reported that Prince William County jail is overcrowded, and many people who are there short-term have to sleep on the floor because there are not enough beds for everyone. If a person is going to be staying at the jail for a long period of time, authorities may work with other correctional facilities in the area to hold them.

However, there has been a lot of construction on that building and plans for an expansion of that jail, so overcrowding may become less of an issue in the near future. If you have questions about the local jail and the procedures which take place there, get in touch with an experienced DUI lawyer.

What to Expect after Being Charged with DUI

Once a person is arrested and charged with a DUI, they go to jail and are brought into a breath testing room. They will subsequently be required to submit a sample for evaluation to determine whether they are legally impaired.

Someone who is arrested for DUI would be brought before a judicial officer or magistrate whose role is to determine whether bail or bond is appropriate in their case. Bail is granted for most first-offense DUI charges, and some magistrates allow a person to go home without having to pay once jail staff members determine that they are no longer intoxicated.

If they are held by the magistrate to post a bond, a person would have to contact a bondsman or a family member to pay that for them. Unfortunately, that process can take a lot of time. A person can expect to be uncomfortable with all the waiting that takes place in DUI jail in Prince William County. Nobody wants to sit in jail any longer than they have to, but these processes sometimes take a while to sort out.

Available Medical Resources

DUI jail in Prince William County does have staff available to treat people who need medical attention. If an individual is having medical issues, jail staff is legally required to treat it.

A person who needs to be seen by a doctor can have that arranged, as well. It is important to understand that nothing is processed quickly in jail. A person is likely to wait for a doctor or medical attention for quite some time unless it is an emergency situation.

Jail-Related Penalties for DUI Charges in Prince William County

If a person has a blood or breath alcohol content (BAC) of 0.14 or lower on their first-offense DUI, they would not receive a jail sentence. While there are some exceptions to this, a person typically does not see active jail time imposed on a first-offense DUI. However, if their BAC is 0.15 or higher — or if it is their second or third offense — they could be face a wide range of mandatory minimum jail sentences. Penalties associated with DUI charges in Prince William County are case specific, and a lawyer can help determine what someone can expect to face according to the combination of variables that are working against them.

Mandatory Minimum Sentences

There are many different mandatory minimum sentences for DUI jail in Prince William County, all of which largely depend on individual charges. There are mandatory penalties for subsequent DUI offenses. A person convicted of a second or third offense will almost certainly face mandatory minimum jail time. Additionally, there is mandatory jail time if someone tests with higher than 0.15 BAC.

Furthermore, a combination of those factors could result in additional mandatory time. There are many different combinations for mandatory time, so it is best to consult with and attorney to determine what mandatory minimum penalties are going to be required in a case.

Learn More about DUI Jail in Prince William County from an Attorney

A person can be held in DUI jail in Prince William County all the way until their trial date, so it is important to know what to expect. For help with understanding the processes and procedures which take place in the local jail and surrounding correctional facilities, consider reaching out to qualified legal counsel today to learn more.