Bucks County DUI House Arrest Lawyer

Afraid of jail after a Bucks County DUI?  As a Bucks County DUI House Arrest Lawyer, I help clients avoid jail through Bucks County Restrictive Probation (house arrest).  If you’ve been charged with a Bucks County DUI or driving while DUI suspended, you may be able to serve your sentence at home on electronic monitoring instead of in the county jail.

Facing jail?  Call now for a confidential Bucks County DUI House Arrest review: (215) 752-5282

Key Benefits of Bucks County DUI House Arrest

• Avoid jail in the Bucks County Correctional Facility
• Stay home with your family instead of sleeping in a jail cell
• Keep your job and income while on GPS home confinement
• Use treatment and counseling to cut down on your time on house arrest
• Reduce the impact of a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd DUI sentence 

Next step:  Call (215) 752-5282 to see if house arrest is an option in your case.

How a Bucks County DUI House Arrest Lawyer Improves Your Chances

• I focus on Bucks County DUI defense and DUI sentencing, including restrictive probation
• I’ve helped many clients get approved for DUI house arrest when they were concerned about going to jail
• Although each case is different, I have a 96% success rate for getting house arrest for 2nd offense DUI clients
• You work directly with me throughout the case, not a junior associate
• Evening and weekend appointments are available to talk through house arrest options

Can I Get House Arrest for a Bucks County DUI?

You are more likely to be approved for Bucks County DUI restrictive probation if:

• You live in Bucks County; and
• You’re charged with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd DUI; or
• You’re charged with driving under suspension DUI-related (1543 (b)) and sentencing will occur in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas
• You have no more than two prior DUI convictions in your lifetime; and
• You have not been convicted of certain serious felony or sexual offenses

Not sure if you qualify?  

Call (215) 752-5282 and I’ll tell you how Bucks County typically handles cases likes yours.

What is Restrictive Probation (House Arrest)?

DUI Restrictive probation is a Bucks County program that lets some DUI offenders serve their sentence at home instead in the county jail.  You wear a GPS ankle bracelet, follow strict probation rules and complete any required D&A treatment.

The formal name is “Probation with Restrictive DUI Conditions,” but most people just call it DUI house arrest.

Key Points:

• Where you serve:  At home with GPS monitoring
• Who decides:  Bucks County Adult Probation and the sentencing judge
• Goal of the Program:  Let eligible defendants avoid county jailtime

Why Apply for Bucks County DUI House Arrest?  

House arrest (also called home confinement or electronic monitoring) lets you serve your sentence at home instead of in the Bucks County Jail.

The biggest benefit:  You can keep living your life

• You can keep your job and income instead of missing work for jail time
• You can stay with your family and continue normal daily routines
• If necessary, you can attend drug and alcohol treatment, which often is required as part of your sentence

In short, house arrest helps you move forward instead of putting your life on hold

Get Help Applying for Bucks County DUI Restrictive Probation

I help clients prepare the Bucks County Restrictive Probation application, so they have the best chance for approval.

Call (215) 752-5282 to speak to me today or submit the confidential contact form to get started today.  Available after hours and weekends.

What is the Bucks County DUI House Arrest Application Deadline

• The Bucks County Probation Department wants your house arrest application at least 30 days before sentencing
• You must completely fill out and sign the application for house arrest
• You must attach your CRN report and full drug and alcohol assessment if required
• The probation department will do a home visit before your court date

If your sentencing date is already scheduled, call me today at (215) 752-5282 to see if there’s still time to apply.

Can I be Approved for DUI Restrictive Probation for a 48 or 72-Hour DUI?

Yes.  Individuals facing a 48 hour or 72-hour mandatory minimum DUI sentence are eligible for the DUI restrictive probation program.  The Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department must approve the application and the sentencing judge must agree to impose a sentence of restrictive probation with DUI conditions.

Can I Qualify for DUI Restrictive Probation With a 4th DUI?

Yes, a person with a 4th offense DUI may qualify for Bucks County Restrictive Probation with DUI Conditions if all of the following conditions are met:

• The District Attorney waives eligibility
• The victim has been given notice of the waiver and opportunity to object
• The sentencing judge approves the District Attorney’s waiver of eligibility

The official policy of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is to object to Restrictive Probation with DUI conditions for individuals charged with a 4th or subsequent lifetime DUI.

Can I be Approved for Bucks County DUI Home Detention if I Live Outside of Bucks County?

Yes, in many cases.  Applicants who live in Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Chester County, Delaware County, Berks County, and Northampton County, Pennsylvania, should apply for the program.

In addition, you should complete all required drug and alcohol assessments and submit the completed restrictive probation application to the Bucks County Probation Department within 30 days of DUI sentencing.

The Bucks County DUI Restrictive Probation Office will review each out-of-county application on a case-by-case basis.  I can assist you with the application and approval process if you are charged with driving under the influence and live outside of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

House Arrest Option for Bucks County Driving Under Suspension DUI-Related

If you’re charged with driving under suspension-DUI -related (1543 (b)), you may still be able to avoid jail and serve your mandatory sentence on home confinement with electronic monitoring, if you qualify for Bucks County Restrictive Probation.

It’s important to know that:

• Magisterial District Judges cannot sentence someone to house arrest for a 1543 (b) conviction
• Only a judge in the Bucks County Justice Center has the authority to approve a sentence of restrictive probation

Because of this, drivers who want house arrest must file a summary appeal if they are convicted of driving under suspension DUI-related at the magisterial district court.

Want to pursue house arrest for a 1543 (b) charge?

Call (215) 752-5282 for a free case consultation and to discuss whether a summary appeal may help you qualify.

The DUI Restrictive Probation Application Process

Applications for DUI Restrictive Probation are available on the Bucks County Probation and Parole website.  All applications should be submitted to the Bucks County Probation Department at least 30 days prior to sentencing.  All applicants must attach a copy of their Court Reporting Network (CRN) report to the application.

If required, a current copy of a full drug and alcohol assessment should be also attached to the application.  The Bucks County Probation Department will conduct an in-person interview and home visit to the residence after the application is received.

Other Documents Required for the DUI Restrictive Probation Application

• Statement of residence form (if required)
• Rules and regulations form
• Special conditions form (if required)
• Equipment responsibility form

When is a Full Drug and Alcohol Evaluation Required?

Are you applying for Bucks County Restrictive Probation for your case?  You must complete a drug and alcohol evaluation in the following circumstances:

• The police charge you with a 2nd or 3rd DUI offense
• The police charge you with driving under suspension DUI-related
• A criminal court judge convicted you of an equivalent DUI offense in another state within the last 10 years
• Your blood alcohol content (BAC) was .16% or higher
• Your Court Reporting Network (CRN) assessment indicates that you require a full D&A assessment, counseling, or treatment
• You are 18 years of age but under the age of 21 at the time of your arrest

The comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation is an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessment.  You can schedule the ASAM assessment through the Livengrin Foundation ((215) 638-5266), the Council of Southeast Pennsylvania ((215) 230-8715), or the Family Service Association ((215) 494-9090).

Approval for DUI Restrictive Probation

Under Pennsylvania Law, approval for placement on the Bucks County Probation with Restrictive DUI Conditions is considered a privilege.  Unfortunately, your acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.

Admission into the program requires approval from the Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department and the sentencing judge.  I can advise you of the steps you should take before sentencing that will significantly improve your chances of being approved for the DUI restrictive probation program.

Electronic Monitoring for DUI Restrictive Probation

Participants admitted into the Bucks County DUI Restrictive Probation Program are required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) bracelet while serving their sentence.  The GPS electronic monitoring device can transmit the participant’s location to the probation department at any given time.

The GPS device can be set to prohibit the participant from traveling to specific geographic areas while wearing the device.  Also, the GPS bracelet will send an alert to the probation department if you travel outside the designated geographic areas or if you violate other conditions of the program.

What are the Costs of Bucks County DUI Home Confinement?

• $45.00 initial set up fee
• $15.00 per day fee
• Sentences of 30 days or less must be paid in full prior to installation of equipment
• Sentences of more than 30 days are eligible for a payment plan
• Individuals on a payment plan must pay all costs in full before the end of home confinement
• Payments may be made by cash or money order at probation office locations during business hours
• Court costs, mandatory fines, court fees and restitution are separate from DUI restrictive probation costs

What are the DUI Restrictive Probation Costs for a 30-Day Mandatory Sentence?

• $495.00 total cost due on the day of sentencing
• $45.00 administrative fee; and
• $450.00 daily GPS monitoring fee (30 days at $15 per day)

What are the DUI Restrictive Probation Costs for a 90-Day Mandatory Sentence?

• $1,395.00 total cost (includes administration fee and daily GPS monitoring fee)
• $495.00 due on the day of sentencing
• $450.00 due 30 days after sentencing
• $450.00 final payment due 60 days after sentencing

Can I Consume Alcohol While I am On Restrictive Probation?

No.  Every person entering the Restrictive Probation Program must sign a contract agreeing to follow the rules and regulations.  Unlike the rules of regular probation, the restrictive probation rules prohibit participants from drinking alcohol during the home detention part of the sentence.

What Happens if I Violate DUI Restrictive Probation Rules?

Before placement in the program, the Bucks County Probation Department will provide all participants with a list of the program rules.  In addition, a probation officer will typically go over the rules during a home visit during the application process.

The probation department will remove you from home detention if you violate the program rules.  Common home confinement rule violations include:

• The presence of alcohol or illegal drugs in the home
• The presence of illegal weapons in the home
• Possessing or consuming illegal drugs
• Leaving your residence or job without authorization
• Tampering with the GPS device

Talk to a Bucks County DUI House Arrest Lawyer Today

If you’re facing a DUI or DUI-related suspension (1543 b) in Bucks County, you may be able to avoid jail through restrictive probation (house arrest).

Call (215) 752-5282 now for a free Bucks County DUI house arrest review. 

During our call, I will:

• Review your charges and sentencing exposure
• Tell you if house arrest is likely in your case
• Suggest things you can do before sentencing to improve your chances of approval

You can also fill out the confidential contact form for a quick response.