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Jail Expectations Following a DC DUI

A DUI arrest can be an overwhelming experience. In addition to all of the concerns you may have, you probably have certain jail expectations following a DC DUI. However, there are certain misconceptions regarding what to expect following an arrest. An experienced DUI attorney could address any questions and concerns you may have, work diligently for your release, and begin to build a defense for you. Speak with an attorney today and know that you are in capable hands.

Paying Bail in Exchange for Release

One of the jail expectations following a DC DUI that is untrue is that individuals must pay bail to be released while their case is pending. Under Washington, DC law, no person would ever have to pay bail or put up any money in exchange for being released while their case is pending. Washington law eliminated bail several decades ago and instead there is a system of pre-trial release and detention saying that there are certain circumstances in which a suspect cannot be detained while their case is pending.

Certain other circumstances where a judge has the discretion to detain a person pending trial depending on their risk of flight or danger to the community and there are certain other circumstances where a judge would be required to detain a suspect for at least a certain period of time until their release conditions could be considered and argued. After a person has been arrested then in a DUI case they can expect to be taken to a police station where they would be photographed, fingerprinted, and asked to submit a breath or urine sample for chemical testing if after the suspect has completed all of those then they will be released directly from the police station on citation with the promise to appear back to their next court date.

What Happens if Someone is Not Eligible for Release?

One of the jail expectations following a DC DUI a person should have is that if they are not eligible for release on citation then they can expect to be transferred to central cell block which is where all the inmates from the different police districts are collected and then transferred over to DC Superior Court to appear before a magistrate judge to determine their release. In some situations, a person who has been arrested and is not eligible for release on citation might be able to make a phone call to family members or whoever so that people can begin the process of arranging for legal counsel and representation for a person who has been arrested.

In those situations, then a person who has been able to secure an attorney can have that attorney appear with their client before the judge to argue for release. If a person has not obtained an attorney prior to appearing before the judge then the court would appoint an attorney for that day to make arguments for release.

After the initial court appearance, if the person is eligible to keep a court-appointed attorney then they have the option of doing that and if they are not eligible to keep a court-appointed attorney because their income is too high then the court would grant the defendant a certain amount of time to be able to secure representation and come back to court with their lawyer.

Seeking Medical Attention in Jail

While people typically do not think about medical attention when they discuss their jail expectations following a DC DUI, if a person who has been arrested is suffering from any kind of medical emergency, all the person needs to do is tell the police that they need to see a doctor. In those situations, the police would typically honor that request and would typically take the person to a doctor, mostly for the reason that the police do not want to suffer any kind of consequences on their end for denying a person medical attention who may be suffering from some kind of medical emergency.

It is in their interest as well to make sure that a person who might be in need of some kind of medical attention or suffering a medical emergency gets those services as soon as humanly possible. After the police take the person to the hospital, they could then take the person back to the police station to complete the booking and processing and continue that process either by citation and release or by taking the person directly before a judge.