How Can I Avoid Jail Time in South Carolina
If you are arrested in South Carolina, your ability to avoid jail time or a prison sentence depends upon a couple of factors including:
- the nature of your offense and
- your prior criminal record.
Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney also plays a role in the resolution of your case. The criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC have the skills and resources that you need to help reach an effective resolution and hopefully avoiding jail time.
Depending upon the County, if you are charged in Magistrate’s Court, Municipal Court, or General Sessions Court, you may be eligible to participate in one of South Carolina’s diversion programs that allow avoiding jail time.
South Carolina Alcohol Education Program (AEP)
To be eligible for AEP, you must be:
- a first-time offender
- between the ages of 17 and 20 and
- charged with alcohol-related offenses
At the completion of the program, officers and the judge must approve, then your arrest record will be expunged (removed).
Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI)
To be eligible for PTI, you must be:
- a first time offender
- charged with a non-violent, qualifying offense
Prosecutors must approve a 3-6 months of PTI to complete after you are accepted to the program and successful completion will allow you to have your charges dropped, and you will be eligible to have any record of your arrest expunged from your criminal history.
AEP and PTI are excellent tools for resolving a criminal case and should always be explored when and where available.
Contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss whether you may eligible to participate in one of South Carolina’s diversion progams and avoiding jail time. We offer free consultations and flexible payment options including VISA and Mastercard.
