| Many people are sentenced to jail - however, a great | | | | service work to individuals who are approved by the |
| number of these people never step one foot into a jail | | | | prosecutor and judge to perform duties to assist |
| cell. There are laws that allow for defendants to | | | | various organizations within the community (in lieu of jail |
| complete their jail time in alternative programs. Criminal | | | | time). 8 hours of community service basically converts |
| defense attorneys, by necessity, have to become | | | | to 1 hour of jail time. This is an excellent alternative, as |
| experts in finding alternatives to incarceration. Many | | | | some defendant's believe that their community service |
| defense clients are business people and / or have | | | | work is much more needed and worthwhile to the |
| families and other serious commitments, and cannot | | | | community, rather than simply sitting behind bars in jail. |
| afford to be taken into custody. Our office works hard | | | | 4. Private Jail / Work Furlough - In some instances, |
| to explore and use every possible alternative for them, | | | | where the judge requires that you serve actual jail |
| thus often avoiding actual jail time. The following are a | | | | time, many people choose to serve their sentence in a |
| list of alternatives to being incarcerated or taken into | | | | private jail facility. This alternative can be somewhat |
| custody. | | | | costly, however, in a private jail, there are many |
| | | | instances where you can get work furlough privileges. |
| 1. Home Electronic Confinement - Home electronic | | | | Work furlough privileges means that during the day |
| confinement can be arranged by either the probation | | | | you are allowed to go out and work at your regular |
| department or a private company. This type of | | | | job and after work, you are required to spend the |
| sentencing requires a person to remain at home, but at | | | | remainder of the evening back in the private jail. While |
| the same time, allows you to continue the activities | | | | you do remain incarcerated, this option does allow you |
| which are necessary to your well-being and existence | | | | to still keep your job. |
| (such as attending work, school, Dr. appointments, | | | | 5. Sober Living Programs - Some clients that are |
| attorney, court or DMV appearances, shop for | | | | convicted and sentenced to jail time as a result of a |
| necessities, care for your children and / or provide | | | | drug or alcohol related charge want to be productive in |
| necessary care for a loved one who may be ill or | | | | the time that they spend while incarcerated. County jail |
| otherwise unable to care for themselves). There is | | | | does not afford very many programs that assist |
| usually a nominal cost that is associated with the | | | | individuals in becoming sober or help with a drug |
| program. | | | | related problem. As an alternative, drug and alcohol |
| 2. CalTrans Work - Many people who are sentenced | | | | rehabilitation programs can be another option. |
| to jail time, end up doing CalTrans work. CalTrans is a | | | | These programs are allowed by law to credit, day for |
| work crew that you may see when you are driving | | | | day for time spent in the program. The individual in this |
| down the freeways of California. They are a group of | | | | program is required to spend their evenings and stay in |
| people (usually dressed in orange vests) who are | | | | the program, which does include regular drug and |
| appointed through the courts to keep the freeway | | | | alcohol testing as well as other types of monitoring to |
| areas clear and clean of trash and other debris. They | | | | ensure you are in fact complying with the program |
| are also involved in various other state improvement | | | | requirements. However, in some programs, you are |
| projects, as ordered by the program. You receive | | | | allowed to go out and work during the day at your |
| credit for your work on the crew to satisfy your jail | | | | regular job as a part of your rehabilitation, providing of |
| time commitment. | | | | course, that you remain in and comply with the |
| 3. Community Service Work - Each court has a | | | | program's requirements. |
| separate office responsible for assigning community | | | | |