If my client has followed the proactive program, we have likely resolved the case with the prosecutor in a very favorable way. This may have meant a reduction in charges, down to a lower drunk driving charge, or to a non-drunk driving offenses.

No matter what deal we work out with the prosecutor, the judge is aware of what the original charge was, and could simply treat the sentence as if my client plead guilty to the original higher charge. An example of this would be if my client was originally charged with Operating with a High BAC, and say their BAC level was 0.24. If I am able to leverage my client’s proactive achievements into a reduction in charges to Operating While Intoxicated, or even better, the judge may still focus on the original facts of the case.

Although having the High BAC charge avoids a mandatory ignition interlock on your case, a judge can still make that part of your sentence even if you plead to a lower charge. Same can be said about things like mandatory jail time on second offenses if we’re able to get the charge reduced to a first offense.

Same goes with probation. Most impaired drunk driving cases receive 6 to 12 months of probation, while a High BAC case tends to be 12 to 24 months. If your case is reduced from High BAC to Impaired Driving, you would think you’d receive the typical Impaired sentence, but most judges will still treat it like the more serious charge. These situations are why my proactive program is so important.

When a client of mine resolves a case with an impressive reduction in charges, I make the point to explain to the judge WHY the reduction was made; my client earned it, it wasn’t just handed over to get rid of the case. I want the judge to know that despite some of the unfavorable facts in the case, my client has already started the process of moving on and learn from the situation, which we hope and believe was, and will be isolated.

It’s also my goal to cover many parts of a sentence in advance. For example, if I know a judge typically sentences a client to 50 hours of community service, I will have my client do it ahead of time. It’s better for my client to pick the organization, spend their time with the organization without the “court ordered” cloud over their head, and not have the penalty of jail hanging over their head if they fail to accomplish the community service. I also don’t want my clients being ordered to pick-up trash on the side of the road in the winter.

We do the same for AA meetings, alcohol education/treatment and having a substance abuse assessment done ahead of time. Ideally, our own professional is doing the evaluation, and not the one hand picked by the court.
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We may also be able to do what is known as same day sentencing if we have done the evaluation ahead of time. This saves my client at least two trips to court, a meeting with probation, and starts the clock on probation. When you’re ordered to return for sentencing, this could be two months later, which basically ads two months to your probation.