Can I Serve My Jail Time Intermittently in Texas?

 Posted on December 20, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Even if the evidence against you is so overwhelming that being convicted of something is inevitable and there is a mandatory jail sentence, there is still a lot an experienced Weatherford, TX criminal defense lawyer can do to help you. It is common for criminal defendants to believe that an attorney cannot help them unless the goal is to have the entire case dismissed or to go to trial and be acquitted. However, having strong legal representation during the sentencing phase can make an enormous difference in how the case ends. One potential option is to ask the court to be allowed to serve any jail time intermittently rather than all at once. Courts will often allow this arrangement, especially for low-risk defendants who have steady employment and other obligations. Your criminal defense lawyer can advise you on whether this arrangement might be appropriate in your case.

What is Intermittent Jail Time? 

Usually, when a person is sent to jail for a certain amount of time - say six months - the offender walks into jail and does not leave the corrections facility for six months. Intermittent jail sentences allow you to serve your time in smaller chunks. A common arrangement is for offenders to be allowed out of jail during the day on weekdays and report back to jail at night and on the weekends. Another common arrangement is for people to serve their time only on the weekends.

What Are the Benefits of Intermittent Jail Sentences? 

The main benefit of intermittent jail time is that your life will not come to a complete stop while you are serving it. You will not be away from your family for the entire duration of the sentence. You can stay at your job and keep working to support yourself and your family. You will not need to give up your apartment or find somewhere to store your things while you are in jail. If you are a parent, you can still fulfill your childcare responsibilities and enjoy seeing your children almost every day. Intermittent jail time is much less disruptive to your life.

Serving time this way is also generally better for your mental health. Being confined in jail with nothing but very poor quality food, unpleasant cohabitants, and little outside time for a long period of time can be detrimental to your mental health. Serving time intermittently allows you both time to decompress on your own and better access to mental health resources or substance abuse treatment if you need it.

Contact a Weatherford, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer 

Soraya Joslin, P.C. is dedicated to helping people who are facing criminal charges. Aggressive Parker County, TX criminal defense attorney Soraya Joslin has close to 30 years of legal experience. Contact us at 817-599-7005 for a complimentary consultation.