The Law Offices of James Spring & Associates represents clients throughout Southern California:
Riverside County including Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, and Temecula San Bernardino County including Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Blythe, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland, Victorville, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley Orange County including Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, Orange, Santa Ana, and Yorba Linda Los Angeles County including Covina, Gardena, Glendora, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Norwalk, Pomona, West Covina, and Whittier San Diego County including Chula Vista, Oceanside, and San Diego
ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL
Among the most frequent questions our clients ask is, “how can I avoid jail?” The reality is that California is in a state of crisis due to overcrowding of its jails. Consequently, in many cases the courts are willing to allow alternative sentencing to be worked out which allows the defendant an opportunity to stay out of jail. The key to getting alternative sentencing is to have an experienced criminal defense attorney who is familiar with your specific court, as well as the alternatives available in this state.
Some examples of alternative sentencing options include:
• Work Release or Work Furlough Programs – The participant in this program goes to a designated work site, usually on a daily basis, to perform physical labor. At the end of the workday, the participant is allowed to go home or to return to a housing dormitory facility other than county jail. Until the work release or work furlough program requirements have been successfully fulfilled, the participant is required to return to the work site the next day or as instructed.
• Diversion Programs – These programs are available in some drug cases, especially when the defendant was in possession of drugs for personal use. The state has an interest in treating non-violent drug users, rather than filling the jails, only to have the user return again. In these programs, the defendant is required to complete a series of drug educational programs. When the defendant completes all required classes and programs, charges may be dismissed. If all classes are successfully completed the conviction may be avoided altogether.
• Plea Bargains – One of the most common ways of avoiding jail is by having an experienced criminal defense lawyer negotiate a plea bargain for you. The courts often favor this approach as it avoid unnecessary trials, and this often allows defendants to agree to minimal charges and a minimal sentence, that does not include jail.
• City Jail or Private Jail – This alternative sentencing program allows the defendant to continue working and complete the sentence on weekends in a private, city jail. Participants check themselves in on Friday afternoon and are released on Sunday afternoon. Specific eligibility requirements apply. Participants may be required to pay a fee for their weekend stays.
• Community Service – Participants are required to work in city organizations or perform clean up duties in and around the city.
• Electronic Monitoring, House Arrest or Home Detention – House arrest, electronic monitoring, or home detention are types of alternative sentencing that limit and/or monitor the defendant's mobility. The participant is fitted with an electronic device or ankle bracelet. This ankle bracelet monitors the whereabouts of the participant at all times. The participant can usually attend necessary functions, such as school, work, church, and other activities approved by the program's administrator. Electronic monitoring may be court-issued or the defendant may have to apply for it independent of the court with the help of a skilled attorney.
• Drug Courts – Drug treatment options for drug users can be an effective type of alternative sentence. These programs includes random drug testing and can be successful for certain defendants and are helpful to the state as they avoid filling the jails with non-violent drug users.
• Sober Living – The participants are housed in a private facilities for defendants with alcohol abuse problems. Here, there will be individual and group therapy sessions, along with required house chores. House rules and curfews are enforced.
