Stopped going to my DUI classes due to financial and family hardships. I now have a warrant and was wondering if I turned myself in would they arrest me right then and there? Or would I be able to schedule another court date to turn myself in to go to jail? Just need to let my employer know so I won't lose my job.
If you don't have money to hire an attorney, go to the public defender's office and request assistance. In the alternative, you can go to the Court and request that the matter be put on calendar for modification. Often the warrant can be recalled without you going to jail if you present yourself to the Court on your own. The exact outcome often depends on the Court, the circumstances, and any prior record or violations of probation. Best wishes.
Before you start resigning yourself to the fact you'll have to go to jail, discuss your situation with a local criminal defense attorney. They may be able to get you simply reinstated in the DUI program if you can show sufficient evidence of financial hardship and that you're taking initiative to complete the program.
If you just waltz into court and appear, can you be arrested right then and there? Yes. Will you? That depends. It's worth consulting an attorney for some help to try and avoid jail. You'll have to finish the program anyway to get your license back, so see if you can get reinstated to do that without having to do jail on top of things.
Going to jail for failing to complete the classes is a distinct possibility. However, many judges will typically listen to your reasons and will re-refer you to the alcohol school. It would be a good idea to consult with a local attorney to get an understanding of what the court is likely to do in your area. Provided that you have met the other obligations of your case, I do think you have a good chance at staying out of jail. Good luck.
A knowledgeable local criminal defense attorney should have a pretty good idea of how to maximize your chance that the judge will give you a break based on financial hardship. Your chances will increase if you have a viable plan for raising the funds you need to restart and finish the class in a reasonable length of time. A good lawyer can help you with that, too.
Rather than immediately turn yourself in, you should consult with an attorney who is familiar with this problem. If you can't afford private counsel, you should contact the Public Defender regarding this issue.
