If you have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence (or driving while intoxicated) chances are that you have many questions about what is going to happen next. After all, this probably is your first time dealing with the criminal justice system, and you are not sure of what to say or what to do, especially given that you have had a harrowing experience getting arrested anyway.
The good news is, thousands of people are charged with drunk driving in the state of Indiana each year, so it is not a crime that carries the same stigma as a sex crime, for example. Nevertheless, we hope to ease your fears by helping you understand what is coming next.
The arraignment – Every person charged with a crime in the state of Indiana shall be formally read the charges against them and be given an opportunity to enter a plea. The pleas commonly entered are “Guilty” and “Not Guilty.” If the accused enters a plea of guilty, chances are that the judge will impose a sentence that may be along the lines of the deal reached between the prosecutor and the accused.
Chemical dependency testing – If you registered a high blood alcohol concentration (.15 or above) you may be ordered to undergo a chemical dependency screening so that the court may assess whether you have a problem with alcohol. This testing is also used in determining sentencing so that a possible disease is treated instead of the symptoms being punished.
If you have further questions about what to expect after a drunk driving arrest, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help.