Charged With a DUI? What to Do Before You Start Calling DUI Attorney
An alcohol and drug assessment is an important part of representation in a DUI case. It involves having the customer consult with a therapist for approximately an hour and a half and be interviewed to identify whether they struggle with alcohol and or substance abuse or dependence. At the conclusion of the interview the counselor will write a report and state whether the customer has any alcohol and or drug problems and whether or not the would benefit from treatment. Having a customer get this evaluation done early on in the DUI procedure will greatly benefit them for a variety of reasons.
First a Judge will need the customer to get an assessment done at the time of sentencing whether it is to the DUI as charged or to some lower offense. In other words unless the DUI charge gets completely dismissed or minimized to a traffic offense this is necessary. It is my viewpoint because the customer will be required to do it anyhow, it's finest to get it done with and have one less thing to worry about.
Second of all given that it will be needed the customer might too know what they are consenting to. As I mentioned above at the time of sentencing the Judge will need the client get this evaluation https://reclaimucounseling.com/ done. If it's refrained from doing prior to the sentencing then the client will simply be agreeing to do whatever it states without understanding what it is. To put it simply if the customer waits till after sentencing to get the assessment done, and it comes back they experience alcohol dependence and needs 2 years worth of treatment that is going to cost $5000 than that is something they most likely would have liked to know when they were choosing whether to take a plea offer which was contingent on them concurring to do the evaluation and any follow up treatment.
Last but not least the evaluation can be used as a settlement tool with the Prosecution. In my experience when the Prosecutor is on the fence about whether or not to provide a reduction in charges one of the factors they will think about is whether or not it's likely the Offender will get in problem again. If the Attorney can offer an assessment stating the Offender doesn't have any substance abuse concerns, and they are not most likely to reoffend, and this DUI arrest was out of character than that is something that may sway the District attorney from one side of the fence to the opposite.
Having a customer get this evaluation previously rather than later on is perfect when effectively representing them on a DUI. I have actually never seen nor become aware of an accused being adversely impacted when this is done early on at the same time.