Here is what you can expect if you are charged with a felony DUI or OVI in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Your first court appearance will be for misdemeanor arraignment.  A plea of not guilty is typical at this time.

Next we will address the issue of bond.  If you are locked up in jail we can meet with you to review the bond factors which all the DUI and OVI attorneys at Suhre and Associates are very familiar.

We know the best things to talk about to give you the best chance to get out of jail with the most minimal restrictions.  The we receive a date for the report of the grand jury, the topic of my next blog.

And remember, if you or a family member has been arrested for DUI in the Cincinnati Area – including: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, Montgomery, and Greene Counties – call me, ROBERT HEALEY, or one of the other DUI / OVI attorneys at 513.333.0014.  We are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Because now is the perfect time to put a team that includes a FORMER POLICE OFFICER and a FORMER PROSECUTOR to work… for you!

A recent client reported back to us her observations about procedures when serving time at the Hamilton County Jail.  We hope to minimize our client’s exposure to jail time whenever possible, but sometimes the law does not provide a remedy other than jail.  

Here is her story:

WHEN SERVING A SENTENCE AT THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER…

 Anything you bring with you to court other than the following will be put into property.  Glasses, case for glasses (no metal), contacts with case (no solution) and bible.  

You may bring socks, underwear and a bra (no wire).  They must be white and new in its original packaging.  

You may also bring cash with you to be applied to your books.  Property can be delivered to the visiting desk in the South Building of the Justice Center, Tuesday thru Friday, between the hours of noon and 7pm.  

You must bring a valid ID when dropping off property.  Medications must be current and in their prescription bottle.  

Narcotics are not permitted and in this situation you would be required to detoxify. The jail uses Tramadol and Tylenol 3 to treat pain.

 Books are available for you to read at the Justice Center.  You may also have them sent to you although they must be shipped directly from the company.  

Not all book stores participate in this program.  The jail suggested Amazon.com

 Cash and credit card deposits may be made to an inmate’s account through a kiosk located in the lobby of the North Building of the Justice Center.  All deposits post immediately to the inmate’s account for use in the commissary and a fee does apply for the use of the kiosk.  

When applying funds to an account, you must deposit a minimum of $5.00 and a maximum of $800.  Money may also be placed on your books by going to www.commissarydeposit.com.  

This website is very easy to use.  There is also a fee for this service and funds post immediately.  See the fee schedule below.  

You may otherwise mail in a money order (no checks accepted).  All mail and money orders should be addressed to:

            INMATES NAME & ID NUMBER

            HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER

            900 SYCAMORE STREET

            CINCINNATI, OHIO  45202

Fees

Amount               Fee

$0.00 – $25.00                     $1.00 + 3.0000%

$25.01 – $100.00                $2.00 + 3.0000%

$100.01 – $200.00              $3.00 + 3.0000%

$200.01 and up                  $4.00 + 3.0000%

Hopefully you will be able to avoid an experience in jail.  However, if you cannot, hopefully this advanced information will make your required stay less stressful.

And remember, if you or a family member has been arrested for DUI in the Cincinnati Area – including: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, Montgomery, and Greene Counties – call me, ROBERT HEALEY, or one of my associates at 513.333.0014.  We are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Because now is the perfect time to put a team that includes a FORMER POLICE OFFICER and a FORMER PROSECUTOR to work….for you!

The Sherriff in Hamilton County said that his jail is full.  It is so full in fact that he has been forced to release some people early.  

In the last 30 days the Sheriff has processed and released over 40 people that have been charged with an OVI.  

So far in this year 16,703 have been released early from the Jail.  Compare that to the total in 2009 of 21,463 people.  In 2008 the total released was less than have that, or 9,220 people.

There are many reasons for the early release, but the main one from the Sheriff is overcrowding.  His website lists the following reasons for release:  Deferred 72, EARLY RELEASE 328, Non-Support Work Detail 192, Pre-Trial Early Release 832, PROCESS ONLY 15178, Work Detail Program  101.

The Sheriff also describes the release reasons in further detail:  

Process Only:  Non-sentenced inmate that is entered into our system, fingerprinted, photographed, given his/her arraignment Court Date and released.

Deferred Sentenced: inmate that is given a new date to return to complete his/her sentence.  

Early Release: Sentenced inmate that is released prior to the completion of his/her Court ordered sentence.

Pre-Trial Early Release: Non-sentenced inmate that is released without posting bond and given his/her next Court date.

Non-Support Work Detail:  Sentenced inmate that is released from the Justice Center to serve his/her sentence on an outside Work Detail.

Work Detail Program:  Sentenced by the Judge to the Outside Work Detail.

Whatever the reason, it appears that a good many people in the custody of the Sheriff can look forward to a continuing increase in people released early from the jail.  The figures are up in the first three quarters of 2010.  If the increase remains constant in the last quarter of 2010, it will result in an additional 888 people released early in 2010 over 2009’s figures.

And remember, if you or a family member has been arrested for DUI in the Cincinnati Area – including: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, Montgomery, and Greene Counties – call me, ROBERT HEALEY, or one of my associates at 513.333.0014.  We are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Because now is the perfect time to put a team that includes a FORMER POLICE OFFICER and a FORMER PROSECUTOR to work….for you!

There are numerous reason why – here are a few of the more common reasons.

Driving 30 mph over the posted limit, driving the wrong way on a road, an auto accident that results in death or serious bodily injury, a 0.180 test or higher, or refusal to take the test.

If you need help with a DUI arrest in Cincinnati or an upcoming court appearance in Hamilton, Butler, Warren or Clermont Counties on a DUI charge, call our office at 513.333.0014 to get professional help.

If you get more than three days in jail for DUI in Cincinnati, the Judge will typically not schedule it during the week and will not allow you to schedule the time to be done on a weekend.

It is up to the discretion of the Court to give you a stay on the days until you commit yourself to serve your time.

If you need help with a DUI arrest in Cincinnati or an upcoming court appearance in Hamilton, Butler, Warren or Clermont Counties on a DUI charge, call our office at our 24 Hour Emergency Number at 513.333.0014 to get professional help.

If you are convicted of a first offense DUI in Ohio you will likely be allowed to do 3 days in a state approved Driver Intervention Program in lieu of 3 days in jail.

This is typically from Thursday until Sunday night.  The balance of any other jail time imposed by the court will have to be done all together.  This means that once you start they keep you until you are done.

You might be able to ask the court to schedule the exact day to begin your confinement, but that is up to the discretion of the court.  Typically a court will grant a stay of the days if we enter a plea, but if we lose at trial you can expect to start any jail time immediately.

If you or a family member have been arrested on DUI in the Greater Cincinnati area and need assistance with an upcoming court appearance in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton or Warren Counties, give us a call at our 24 Hour Emergency Number at 513.333.0014 for affordable and professional help.