DUI Jail in Mecklenburg County

Following a DUI stop and arrest in Mecklenburg County, the police will take the individual to the Meherrin River Regional Jail where they will face a magistrate and be held until they can demonstrate their sobriety or until someone sober can pick them up after release on bail or their own recognizance. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI and are wondering what DUI jail in Mecklenburg County is like, an attorney may be able to clarify the incarceration process. Reach out to a dedicated DUI attorney today.

DUI Booking Process

Central booking is the initial processing place at the jail where someone will be processed into the custody of law enforcement. Immediately after an arrest, the arresting officer will take the accused to their precinct or station and begin the booking process. During the process, a mug shot will be taken, personal information recorded (such as weight, height, age, fingerprints, and more), personal belongings seized and cataloged, and a national database will be checked to ensure there are no outstanding warrants for crimes committed in other states or territories. The individual’s arrest will be entered in that database, and from then on, their arrest history will be permanent and public.

After booking, defendants are generally held in the station until they can either be released on bail or their own recognizance, or they could be transferred to a full detention center while they await arraignment in front of a magistrate or judge. Usually, defendants are released from DUI jail in Mecklenburg County after they have sobered up.

What Happens Once One is in Mecklenburg County Jail

The two jails in Mecklenburg County have been recently renovated and are in relatively clean shape. However, it is still a jail and defendants will have their liberty restricted while they are in custody and will spend most (if not all) of their time in a cell.

Medical resources are very limited at the jail in Mecklenburg County. If a prisoner requires immediate medical attention, they will receive it and could remain in the custody of law enforcement while in a hospital. They will only be put into jail after an assessment of medical condition, and an option for treatment has been given. If there is a legitimate medical concern after arriving at the jail, the accused should immediately notify the officers and explain their request and need for medical attention.

Officers will generally administer a breathalyzer test at this point to determine a person’s blood alcohol content so if they are released, they are not publicly intoxicated.

DUI Jail Penalties

The jail-related penalties for a DUI in Mecklenburg County include the potential of up to a year in jail if convicted of a first or second-offense DUI. After an arrest, a defendant could potentially be held in jail until their trial depending on their bail and bond situation. This could mean up to 30 days in jail if they are not allowed out or cannot post bail. However, it is entirely possible that they may not spend any time in jail at all if they are released and can have a sober person pick them up.

A Seasoned DUI Lawyer Could Help

If you or a loved one is going to be put in jail for a DUI, it is important to know all you can before incarceration. DUI jail in Mecklenburg County can be a difficult and confusing process, but a lawyer may be able to clarify what would happen in a jailing situation. Call an experienced criminal defense attorney today for a consultation on your case.