Convincing the Court to Allow Weekend Jail
Convincing a judge to minimize jail time or approve an alternative sentence takes careful preparation by an experienced lawyer who has the passion to pursue every possible option.
When a highly reputable attorney makes such a request, the judge is far more likely to give it full consideration.
Case Example: Negotiating a Weekend Jail Sentence
When a man with prior felony drug convictions faced several new serious drug charges, he knew he would lose his job if sent to prison. Losing his job and going to prison would have been devastating to his family—both emotionally and financially.
He hired Attorney Carl Jordan, known for achieving the best possible outcomes in criminal matters. Attorney Jordan submitted a deviation request to the prosecutor — a formal letter attempting to convince the prosecutor to offer a better plea deal than originally proposed.
As a result, two of the drug charges were dismissed, along with the habitual offender sentencing enhancement.
The Cobbs Agreement
At a circuit court hearing, Attorney Jordan requested a Cobbs agreement — a legal mechanism that allows a defendant to plead guilty with some certainty about the sentence they will receive.
The judge agreed to sentence the defendant to the bottom one-third of the sentencing guidelines in exchange for a guilty plea.
Attorney Jordan’s client could have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined up to $25,000 — or both.
Instead, he was sentenced to weekend jail.
Client’s Sentence
- 4 weekends in county jail (Saturday 9 AM – Sunday 4 PM)
- 2 years of probation
- 90 days on tether
- No alcohol, drugs, or marijuana
- Random drug and alcohol testing
- Substance abuse treatment
- Fine of $1,002 plus $60 per month while on tether, reduced to $30 per month after tether removal until probation completion
Who Is Eligible for a Weekend Jail Sentence?
You should discuss this sentencing option with a criminal defense attorney. The lawyer will be able to explain whether this alternative is available in your case.
Weekend jail — also known as an intermittent criminal sentence — allows an offender to serve time in jail in segments instead of all at once. The offender reports to jail for a set timeframe (for example, from Friday to Sunday), then returns to their normal life until the next period of incarceration. This continues until the full sentence is served.
Generally, judges reserve this option for offenses with jail time of 90 days or less.
If the offender has a history of violating probation, the judge is unlikely to grant a weekend sentence.
To qualify, the offender must show that they have a legitimate job or other important responsibilities — such as employment, childcare, or education — that would make serving a continuous sentence unusually burdensome.
Carl Jordan Is Passionate About Helping Those Who Face Overwhelming Odds
Attorney Carl Jordan routinely negotiates sentence agreements that minimize the impact of a criminal conviction.
He is fearless and aggressive — doing whatever it takes to secure the best possible outcome in every criminal case. His ultimate goal is to have all charges dismissed whenever possible.
