Things to Do Before Court When You Have Received a DUI Charge
If you have recently received a DUI charge, you might find yourself wondering what the next best thing to do is. There are actually a few things you might want to do in order to help improve your situation. To help you with this, you might want to take a few moments to review the following suggestions.
Hire a DUI Attorney
Sure, you are technically able to represent yourself, but you might not want to. By having a DUI attorney by your side, you will have someone who will be able to plead your case to the judge in the most appropriate manner. If you are planning to plead guilty, or you simply want to prepare for a guilty verdict, you will want to talk with your attorney about working a deal. For example, the judge might be more willing to lessen any jail time that he or she was going to give you if you are instead willing to go to rehab. Your attorney can discuss such options with the prosecuting attorney and the judge.
Start Counseling
If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, it may be in your best interest to seek counseling. Sure, support groups are great and should be used, but you may need individual therapeutic counseling in order to determine the root cause of your problem. By addressing any underlying issues that you might have, you will be less likely to repeat your mistake of driving while intoxicated. Also, working on yourself in this manner may show the judge that you are serious about fixing your mistake and may take that into consideration when determining what your punishment will be.
Get Your Personal Affairs In Order
Sure, you might have went to jail the night that you were charged with a DUI. However, after your hearing, you might be sent back to jail to finish out the punishment that you are given. Whether you go back to jail and how much time you spend in there will depend on the circumstances of your DUI charge and your criminal history. Therefore, you will want to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. If you are sentenced to any jail time, you are likely to be taken to the jail immediately following the hearing. You will want to have already made arrangements for where your children and pets will stay. You might want to have paid a few bills in advance or designated someone to take care of the bills so that the utilities are not shut off while you are gone.
With those tips in mind, you should be much more prepared for your day in DUI court.
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