If you are convicted of drunk driving, you may be required to attend a treatment program for alcoholics.
Since 2000, Los Angeles has allowed alcohol addiction treatment as an alternative to jail in DUI cases. This isn’t used for every DUI, and depending on the circumstances of your case it can be a good thing or a bad thing. In general, attending alcohol treatment is better than going to jail.
There are several types of alcohol treatment programs you may have to enroll in:
- Weekly group meetings. These are meetings run by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or a similar program. You go once or twice a week, admit you are an alcoholic, and talk about the issues surrounding your addiction. There are many variants on this program, including meetings not held by AA.
- A formal rehab program. This is where you check into a short-term residence facility that helps you break your addition and withdraw from alcohol. This is used when you (or the judge) believe you cannot simply quit alcohol with community support. When you complete the program you return home.
- A sober living environment. This is a long term solution where you live in a residence with other sober, recovering alcoholics. A sober living environment is a complete change in lifestyle.
Once the judge tells you what type of treatment you need to get, you can choose where specifically to get that treatment. We offer a guide on choosing the right program here: How do you choose a treatment program if I’m ordered into one for a Los Angeles DUI?
If you do not complete treatment, it will be seen as a probation violation and you will likely be sent to jail.
Have you been charged with DUI? We can connect you with an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer and get you a FREE consultation. Fill out the form to the right or call (310) 896-2724 and get your free consultation today.
