DUI Jail in Prince George’s County
After someone is arrested for a DUI in Prince George’s County, the police will take them to a local precinct for processing and testing. The testing may include blood and breath test that the officers will use as evidence of impairment. The processing is a number of steps law enforcement will conduct before putting the individual in DUI jail. DUI jail in Prince George’s County is never a pleasant place, therefore, it is important for individuals in jail to obtain an experienced DUI attorney who could help them get out as soon as possible. Once hired, the lawyer could also assist with building a strong defense to keep the defendant out of jail.
Central Booking After an Arrest
Central booking is the place people are brought for processing, booking, and arresting. Central booking is a processing unit where someone is processed before it is decided if they can be released or if they are to be sent to jail. In most DUI cases, the individual is not taken into central booking. Instead, people are discretionarily released, which means that after the test is administered, the person is given the paperwork within an hour and let go to the care of someone else. If a person is booked, the process will take several hours. They will then be taken to see a commissioner who determines whether they are able to be released or not.
After someone is booked in DUI jail in Prince George’s County, they will see a commissioner. A commissioner is a public servant who determines whether it is safe to release the person, hold them on bond, or hold them without bond. If there is a bond in place, the person must make bond or get a bondsman.
Medical Resources Available in Jail
DUI jail in Prince George’s County offers medical services to individuals who need it. However, these services are not the at the same level as a hospital. If the arrested individual needs to be seen by a doctor, paramedics will be called to the scene. If there is a severe medical issue, they are taken to a hospital, not the jail. Many times, the hospital will draw blood for tests because the person cannot be taken to the police station. It is important to know that just because they are taken to the hospital first it does not mean that they will not have to go to jail after they have been treated.
Minimum and Maximum Amount of Jail Time
There is no minimum amount of time a person must be held in jail for a DUI for a first offense. DUIs do not carry a mandatory minimum unless it is a third offense and the defendant has two prior convictions. In this case, there is a 10-day mandatory minimum in jail on a third conviction. However, the judge has the option to sentence them to a maximum of three years in jail after a third offense.
The penalties for a first-offense DUI are up to one year in jail, while a second offense carries up to two years in jail. Although many people are not sentenced to the full maximum, it is fully up to the judge’s discretion. For more information about DUI jail in Prince George’s County, reach out to a seasoned DUI lawyer.