Sober living

Individuals convicted of California marijuana-related offenses face serious consequences. Many of these offenses (whether they are misdemeanors or felonies) carry jail or prison sentences and additional heavy fines. There are a variety of alternative sentencing options that focus on drug rehabilitation that may be imposed in lieu of a jail or prison sentence if one’s criminal defense lawyer knows to inquire about them and knows how to best convince a prosecutor and judge that his or her client would be better served by being treated rather than by being incarcerated. The outstanding criminal attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm are familiar with all of these alternative sentencing options and will do their best to ensure that their eligible clients receive treatment instead of a jail or prison sentence.

Sober living is one of these treatment options. Sober living is for anyone who needs help with a drug problem, but may be especially beneficial for those individuals who may have been unsuccessful with their marijuana or other drug rehabilitation efforts in the past, as this type of program is very intense and closely supervised. If an individual successfully completes his or her stay in a sober living house, he or she will receive credit (day for day) for the jail or prison sentence that would have otherwise been imposed (even if the law states that the offense for which he or she was convicted requires mandatory incarceration) and, if the time spent at the facility exceeds the jail or prison sentence that would have been imposed, he or she will receive credit in the amount of at least $30 per day towards his or her fine, depending on the court’s discretion.

Sober living requires that all residents attend support meetings (such as group counseling or classes and other 12-step programs) and contribute to the house by performing various household chores. Treatment plans are tailored to meet each resident’s individual needs and goals and typically include extended care, continuing care and transitional care. All treatment focuses on personal responsibility and generally addresses the physical, psychological, behavioral, social, family and spiritual aspects that all comprise drug addiction. Treatment may include education, group therapy, multi-family groups, relapse prevention plans, individual counseling and at least one 12-step program. As one progresses through the program and demonstrates that he or she is capable of “sober living” he or she may be permitted to work and otherwise leave the residence during the day but must return at night to participate in treatment and classes. This type of living is for those who need to address long term marijuana abuse problems and subjects its residents to mandatory drug tests, the results of which are immediately reported to the courts. If an individual is unsuccessful in his or her rehabilitation efforts, a jail or prison sentence will likely await.

The exceptional attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm specialize in California marijuana defense and in helping their clients to obtain the most favorable and least restrictive sentences available. Their vast knowledge about these different options allow them to explain the differences, advantages and disadvantages that exist between sober living, Proposition 36 sentencing and diversion programs – all programs that allow an individual to reduce or eliminate his or her jail or prison sentence, assuming that the individual successfully completes the selected program. In addition, these unsurpassed, savvy lawyers know which offenses are eligible for alternative treatment and know how to negotiate deals that allow their clients to become eligible, even if their charged offenses were not. For more information on sober living, contact The Kavinoky Law Firm today for a free consultation.