Will Entering an Alcohol Rehab Help Legal Proceedings?

The notion that drugs and alcohol compel you to act out of character is unquestionable.

For this reason, the law does afford sympathy on to those who are willing to admit that they have a problem and that they are willing to seek out help. Thus, it’s undeniable that the courts will give you credit when it comes to sentencing.

If the crime you have committed is sufficiently minor, going to rehab may result in your sentence being wholly suspended. However, the courts will need to be satisfied that your motive in seeking out treatment was not merely motivated by the need to stay out of prison.

This means you will need to demonstrate your genuine wish to change your life for the better by eliminating your addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The courts will be particularly responsive to your wish to enter rehab if your crime directly related to your addiction. If your crime thus must not be premeditated in any way, because otherwise, this would suggest you would have committed this crime even if you never happened to suffer from addiction.

Judges are known to show leniency for those who seek out rehab treatment because these judges know that treatment is highly effective at preventing people from committing crimes in the future.

Also, spending time in prison may have a detrimental effect because it could result in people becoming hardened criminals. In reality, going to prison often causes more harm than good.

If you believe that going to rehab will completely exonerate you from your crimes, then think again. You will likely be given a criminal record, although this record will probably expire in around five-years.

You will also be likely to face a non-custodial sentence, such as community service, a probation order, an injunction or a fine.

Getting help

The above is not intended to serve as legal advice. Instead, seek out the services of a solicitor or barrister who specialises in criminal proceedings.