Anyone ever gone to prison for DUI or DWI?
I live in North Carolina which has some of the toughest DUI laws in the country. I'm getting ready to go to court for my 3rd offense within 7 years. Bad, I know. The good news is, I have turned my life around because of this and I would have probably ended up dead or killed someone else if I had...
I live in North Carolina which has some of the toughest DUI laws in the country. I'm getting ready to go to court for my 3rd offense within 7 years. Bad, I know. The good news is, I have turned my life around because of this and I would have probably ended up dead or killed someone else if I hadn't hit rock bottom. I've quit drinking, and have gone back to college. Im now engaged to my longtime girlfriend and life is great for the first time. I'm no longer bound by the chains of addiction. I'm really not even upset about possibly going to prison because I'm just ready to get it over with and it will only help me see the err of my ways. I want to become a youth counselor or similar field to give the type of advice to kids that was never given to me.
Anyway, assuming I'm found guilty I'm facing mandatory jail time according to North Carolina law. I'm just wondering if anyone out there has had to go to prison or jail for an extended period of time for DUI.
1.) What is it like? Do they put everyone together or will I be in a minimum type prison?
2.) If I get less than a year sentence, what will county jail be like for a year? Do you get to work or anything to help pass the time? Staying in a jail cell for 22 hours a day can be maddening.
P.S., before you judge me and think I'm a terrible person, this is the only crime I've ever committed and I only started drinking a few years ago. My record is clean other than this 3 misdemeanors. I just had a drinking problem and was very unlucky with the police. It's behind me now.
North Carolina’s laws are not that tough. I live in Arizona, my uncle had a 3rd DUI conviction 2 years ago. He spent 14 days in jail, he also had work release, which I had to go pick him up for and drop him back off at the jail (tent city) everyday because he also lost his license for one year. He then had to have an interlock device installed on his car for another year.
These are just some of the possibilities.
NC laws are not very tough if you have had 3 Driving under the Influence arrest and they are all misdemeanors. In my state, the first one is a misdemeanor, the second is a Felony with mandatory 30 month jail term. Each successive DUII is a felony and has longer jail terms than the ones before.
I suggest you ask for Trustee status wherever you get sentenced to. Trustees get to do things like work in the kitchen, mop the hallways, etc. It is better than sitting in the cell staring at the other uglies all day. If you go to prison, you can get trustee status for things like the prison fire dept., etc.
NC
For a third conviction, a judge can sentence you up to a max of 24 months jail, $2000 fine and permanent revocation of your license. Another conviction and you join the ranks of felony "Habitual Offenders". Although I find your "epiphany" and the positive changes you are making admirable, It’s interesting that it took 3 DUI’s and 7 years of putting others at risk to flip the switch. Now, you seem to be more worried about your consequences than paying your debt to society. I believe you also need to understand that it was not just a "drinking problem and bad luck with the police" that put you in current circumstances, but a series of decisions and choices that you made and are now finally seeing the harsh consequences. It’s not "behind you now" as you say until you understand what’s underneath and why you did what you did and your journey is just beginning.