If you’ve been convicted of a crime, jail time isn’t the only type of sentence the judge can give. Depending on the nature and severity of the crime, you could be sentenced to pay a fine, serve community service hours, or even serve a sentence by house arrest.
If the judge decides on house arrest, you will be confined to your home and be required to wear a device to monitor your location. Many people prefer house arrest to jail time as it affords them the comfort of their home rather than a cold, hard cell. However, there are many ways house arrest can influence your life.
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The realities of house arrest are very different compared to how it looks on television, and you might not have the luxuries you expect. If you violate the terms of your house arrest you may be subject to a harsher sentence. Before serving your house arrest sentence it is essential to understand all the facts and what they entail.
As long as the judge grants them, you may be given breaks to leave your house for certain activities. Depending on your unique situation, you could be allowed to leave for work, school, doctor appointments, or court hearings. However, if you are away from your home longer than the time permitted, your monitor will notify the police and you will be arrested for violating the terms of your house arrest.
Sentencing people to house arrest saves the courts money. A jail sentence can cost up to $20,000 per year, while a house arrest sentence only costs $6,000. Additionally, the court will often require you to cover some of the expenses. In most cases, the court will require you to pay a weekly or monthly fee towards the cost of the monitoring device and service.
Time credits allow those serving a jail sentence to earn time off their sentence with good behavior. However, if you are under house arrest, you will not have access to this system and will likely have to serve your entire sentence.
House arrest is not only for those convicted of crimes. You may also be ordered to house arrest as a condition to your bail. This is a particularly common bail condition for non-violent crimes in order to prevent the accused from fleeing the country.
If you have questions about how to receive a house arrest sentence rather than jail time, the experienced attorneys at Knutson + Casey can help. Our skilled legal team knows the ins and outs of Minnesota law and is committed to helping you achieve the best outcome possible for your case.
We have helped thousands of clients in Southern Minnesota, and we are here to help you achieve results. Give us a call at (507) 344-8888 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation today.