An Oregon man was sentenced to five (5) years in prison this week after being convicted of Driving under the Influence (DUI) for the 11th time. In sentencing the man to such a long prison term, the judge talked about the large number of prior offenses. News reports about the incident contained no discussion about the powerful nature of alcohol addiction.
In Nevada, DUI is an extremely serious offense. Even first-offense DUI convictions carry minimum mandatory sentences, including jail time, heavy fines and extensive educational requirements. A third DUI offense in seven (7) years brings mandatory prison terms of up to six (6) years. If someone is hurt or killed in a DUI-related crash, the driver will face mandatory prison terms of up to twenty (20) years.
Alcohol can be powerfully addictive. Repeat DUI offenders rarely mean harm to others. Instead, the alcohol impairs their judgment to the point that they don't realize that their actions may pose a danger to themselves or others. Most repeat DUI offenders are addicted to alcohol and need treatment, not prison.
Nevada has numerous diversion programs to assist DUI offenders and other offenders with alcohol-related issues. If you or someone you know is facing a DUI charge (or another charge based on an alcohol-related act), it is important that you contact a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who can assist you in navigating this criminal justice system.
The DUI Defense Attorneys at Brown Law Offices have the experience necessary to help analyze the facts of your case, identify applicable defenses and provide you with the most aggressive defense strategy possible. If treatment is your goal, our DUI defense lawyers have a wealth of knowledge regarding available programs to assist you in getting the help you desire for yourself or your loved one.