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Reducing Jail Time After A DUI in Indianapolis

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Shielding You From The Harshest Consequences Of An OWI Conviction

A conviction for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI) in Indiana often results in jail time, but this is not always the case. Jail time can strip you of your freedom and also result in the loss of your job, professional license, and your housing. An experienced Indianapolis DUI defense attorney from The Criminal Defense Team can review your case and explain the possible strategies that can be deployed to reduce jail time after a DUI. 

Call (317) OUR-TEAM for a confidential case consultation with an experienced Indianapolis OWI defense lawyer.

Penalties For OWI 

The potential jail time that you can face after an OWI depends on your BAC and other circumstances surrounding the arrest. The potential penalties for an OWI offense include:

  • First offense – Up to 60 days in jail or up to one year with a BAC of .15 percent or more
  • Second offense – Five days to three years’ incarceration
  • Third offense – Ten days to three years incarceration

For an underage DUI in which a person under age 21 has a BAC of at least 0.02 percent, the potential jail term is six months. If you are charged with an underage DUI, reach out to our underage DUI defense attorney in Indianapolis today.

OWI can be charged as a Level 6 felony if the driver has been convicted of OWI within the past seven years or if the driver is over 21 years old and has a passenger under the age of 18. The potential jail time for a Level 6 felony in Indiana is 6 to 30 months. A person can be charged with a Level 4 or 5 felony in Indiana if the drinking and driving caused an accident that resulted in a serious bodily injury or death. A Level 5 felony can result in jail time of up to six years. A Level 4 felony conviction can result in a sentence of two to twelve years. 

Other Penalties For OWI 

In addition to possible jail time, an OWI conviction can result in other penalties, including:

  • Fines up to $10,000
  • Driver’s license suspension
  • Completion of a substance abuse course 
  • Probation
  • Attendance of a victim impact panel
  • Submission to random drug and alcohol testing 

Mandatory And Advisory Jail Sentences For OWI Offenses

Indiana has mandatory and advisory jail sentences for OWI offenses. Mandatory jail sentences mean that jail time is required. For example, you may be required to serve five or ten days in jail. However, in some circumstances, you may be able to perform community service instead of serving jail time. 

An advisory sentence is a midway point between the least severe and most severe possible penalties. The court may consider this sentence upon a conviction. In the event that you have even been charged with a felony due to a DUI, contact our Indianapolis felony DUI lawyer as soon as possible.

Strategies To Eliminate Or Reduce Jail Time For OWI Offenses

There are several strategies that an experienced criminal defense lawyer may try to eliminate or reduce jail time, such as:

  • Seeking to have charges dismissed for lack of evidence
  • Suppressing evidence that was obtained through an illegal search or traffic stop
  • Reducing the offense to a wet reckless charge
  • Requesting community service time instead of jail time
  • Asking for you to be made part of a pre-trial diversion program

An experienced lawyer can review your case and determine the best path forward.

Learn More About Reducing Jail Time After A DUI

If you’d like to learn more about the possibility of reducing jail time after a DUI, contact The Criminal Defense Team. We have successfully resolved cases like yours with no or little jail time. Learn more about how we can help with your case when you call for your confidential consultation. 

Contact us today at (317) 687-8326  for your confidential case review.