Penalties for Evading Responsibility in Greenwich

When handling an evading responsibility charge, it is important that an individual have all necessary legal information to help ensure a positive outcome. These sorts of cases can sometimes have life-long effects on an individual, with thousands of dollars in fines and lengthy periods of incarceration as penalties for more severe cases. To avoid the penalties associated with evading responsibility in Greenwich, it is important that any person involved contact a knowledgeable lawyer immediately. A seasoned attorney will be able to aid in lessening or dismissing any penalties you may be facing.

Potential Penalties

The penalties for evading responsibility in Greenwich may include a period of imprisonment as well as a fine. An individual’s license may also be suspended after being convicted for evading responsibility. When an individual is convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony, the charge could end up on that person’s criminal record. Generally speaking, the penalties for a felony conviction are more severe. When an individual is facing a felony, they are exposed to increased jail time, heavier fines, and longer periods of probation.

Misdemeanor Charge

When charged with a misdemeanor, an individual could face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $600. Further, an individual could face up to two years of probation for a conviction. When someone is convicted, they also face a DMV license suspension. Those penalties are for when someone is convicted, meaning they pleaded guilty or were found guilty.

Felony Charge

The penalties for a felony evading responsibility charge in Greenwich are increased jail time and increased fines. This can vary depending on the amount of harm caused. For minor physical injuries, the penalty is up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. For death or a serious physical injury, it is up to 20 years in prison, 2 years of which are mandatory, and a fine of up to $20,000 plus a period of probation. The same driver’s license penalties apply where an individual faces a suspension if they are convicted, plead guilty, or are found guilty.

Alternative Penalties

As an alternative to jail time, it is possible to get probation when dealing with the penalties from a misdemeanor conviction or felony offense in Greenwich causing only minor physical injuries. In these instances, it is possible to get a suspended jail time and a sort of period of probation, but it is usually combined with a fine if the person gets a probation disposition.

Further, it is possible for an individual to be subjected to community service instead of jail time or a fine when convicted of evading responsibility, especially if somebody cannot afford to pay a fine. More commonly, though, the individual will have either jail time or a fine. As part of their period of probation, when there is probation, they may be ordered to do community service. This can sometimes be sentenced as a condition of the probation.

Possible Outcomes

The best outcome of an evading responsibility charge in Greenwich, which is more common in a misdemeanor case, is that the attorney can get the case dropped. If they use the accelerated rehabilitation program, an attorney can get the charge dismissed and help someone keep their criminal record clean, as if the arrest never happened. These scenarios are more common in cases where there is less damage. These outcomes are harder to achieve when the damage is more severe.

Benefit of an Attorney

An attorney can try to alleviate the prosecutor’s concern that the person was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or that the person was breaking any other licensing or motor vehicle registration laws. The attorney can also help to make sure that their client is reimbursed for any expenses. As an advocate for their client, an experienced lawyer will be able to assist in reducing any potential penalties associated with an evading responsibility charge in Greenwich. Making sure all the case elements are properly in place puts a person in the best position to be able to achieve a positive outcome.