Jail Time: Will I Have Time to Turn Myself In?

16 May Jail Time: Will I Have Time to Turn Myself In?

I am often asked “if I am sentenced to jail, will I have time to turn myself in?” The answer, in almost every case, is yes.

Plea Agreement
If you reach a plea agreement in your case, which is where you agree to plead guilty to a certain crime, part of the negotiated agreement will be a certain date upon which to turn yourself in. Plea agreements can be reached in misdemeanor cases, felony cases, and even violations of probation.

Typically, you will get thirty days to turn yourself in. However, your attorney may negotiate more time depending on your circumstances.

Failed Drug Screen on Court Date
In Rutherford County criminal cases where you are on probation at the time of your court date, the court requires you to take a drug screen on the day you are in court. If you fail the drug screen while on probation, the court will put you in jail immediately and revoke your bond.

If a court revokes your bond and sends you to jail, you will not have time to turn yourself in, but be sent to jail immediately.

Found Guilty at Trial
The Rules of Criminal Procedure have certain rules about when someone is turned over to jail.

In most cases, if a jury finds you guilty of a crime, the judge will order you to go to jail immediately, pending the sentencing hearing. In some cases, however, you may be allowed to remain outside of jail on bond until the court issues a sentence in the case.

Conclusion
In short, whether you will have time to turn yourself in depends on the kind of case you have. In most cases, the parties reach an agreement and are able to negotiate time to turn yourself into jail, which helps people plan ahead, provide for their families, and keep their jobs.