Prison Sentence for DUI

In California, repeat DUI offenders can face up to 16 months in state prison. Some DUI offenders can face much longer.

Most California DUI sentences do not involve prison, but the most serious ones do. Prison time is different than jail time—and much more severe. When you are sentenced to jail, you serve your time in a county or local facility that is generally safe. When sentenced to prison, you are sent to a state run penitentiary that houses a large number of potentially violent convicts. These facilities are often hours away from your family.

If this is your first arrest for DUI, and no one was injured, you will not face prison time even if you’re convicted. But there are four circumstances where a California DUI does carry prison time:

  • Repeat offenders. If you have two prior DUI convictions in the past 10 years, you face up to 16 months in state prison.
  • DUI causing injuries. If your DUI involved an accident and someone was hurt, you may face jail time. DUI’s involving minor injuries usually just carry a jail sentence, but those involving “serious” injuries carry 1-5 years in prison, more in some cases.
  • DUI causing death. If your DUI resulted in someone’s death, you may be charged with variants on Vehicular Manslaughter DUI (4-10 years in prison) or DUI Murder (15 years to life).

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.

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