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When Does Arizona Require Drug and Alcohol Counseling for Individuals Charged with DUI?

Interviewer: In regards to drug and alcohol counseling: when is it required, and where will it happen in the DUI process?

Screening and Counseling from an Approved Facility Is Required Following a DUI Conviction in Arizona

Brian Sloan: Anyone convicted of DUI is going to be required to do alcohol or drug screening, counseling, education, and/or treatment from approved facility. Usually it’s going to be a matter of attending 16 or up to 108 hours at by the counseling center.

Before someone begins their counseling session, they are required to do a screening, and a screening is basically done with a counselor to determine what number of hours would be appropriate. The number of hours an individual is required to undergo are usually based on several different factors, primarily considering what a person’s alleged blood alcohol content was at the time of the arrest.

Attorney Sloan Recommends Voluntary Counseling for His Clients That Are Charged with DUI

Generally speaking, I do often recommend that my clients get themselves into counseling immediately, as soon after arrest as possible. One, because depending on what counseling center you go to, if you were to be convicted, the time you have spent is very likely going to count towards the counseling you would be required to do if you are convicted.

Attending Voluntary Counseling Is a Proactive Measure with Numerous Benefits

Two, it really looks good. It looks good to your employer, if that might be a factor. It looks good to the prosecutor during pre-negotiations. Counseling is not necessarily fun. It will take time and money out of your life, but it can help you in the long run.

People May Be Required to Attend a Victim Impact Panel after a DUI Conviction in Arizona

Interviewer: Can you explain what attending a victim impact panel entails?

Brian Sloan: Sure. The victim impact panel is the class organized by the Mothers against Drunk Driving. It’s something that is specifically ordered by the judge if they feel that is in the best interest of the defendant after they are convicted of DUI. I believe it’s a one-time class.

The Victim Impact Panel Shows How Damaging Drinking and Driving Is to Our Society

The defendant will have to pay to attend. At the class, I believe that people get up to speak and videos are shown. It’s really trying to show the human side of how drunk driving impacts families and our communities. Counseling is for your benefit. Jail is for your benefit, or for your punishment, I’ll say.

The Mothers against Drunk Driving impact panel is more to show the cost to society and what happens to other people when someone is to drink and drive or do drugs and then drive impaired.

By Brian Douglas Sloan

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Brian Douglas Sloan

DUI ATTORNEY


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Best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix

Why DUI Attorney Brian Douglas Sloan?

19+

19+ Years SOLELY Focused on DUI Defense

4,200+

4,200+ DUIs Successfully Defended

Top Accolades

  • Only DUI "Power Lawyer" in the Nation Featured in USA Today, 2022

  • Top 10 in Arizona

Top 1%

Top One Percent in the Nation

Superb 10/10

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Preeminent
4.9 / 5.0

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“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career focused on Arizona DUI Defense representation, having personally defended over 4,200+ DUI clients in the past 19+ years.

If you’re looking for a divorce attorney, tax attorney, or civil attorney, I can comfortably say, "I’m not the one for you."

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive" or "will fight for you" are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because they think people want to hear them. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good and is often used to put on a show to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the lawyers claiming to do DUI Defense, Criminal Cases, Accident Cases, and Divorces. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none! By handling all sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up to date on the latest changes in Phoenix DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense at an exceptional price.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I produced DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of Arizona's most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers, recognized nationally, including in a 2022 issue of USA Today.

There are no other private DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona that have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. And as a bonus, I offer a flat rate for my legal services without any hidden charges. This guarantees that I offer some of the most competitive rates among all Arizona DUI Attorneys, while being the preeminent leader in the field of DUI Defense Representation.

Over the years, countless people have come to me after discovering that their first lawyer made a mistake, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply took their money and didn't do much to advance their case. And you would be surprised at how often this happens.

So, instead of wasting time and money on the wrong DUI Defense Attorney, do yourself a favor and get the proven and documented best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix and the surrounding areas of Maricopa County.

You can reach me on my cell phone: 480-720-7839.


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Brian Douglas Sloan

DUI Attorney

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Email address:
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2 N. Central Ave Suite 1929
Phoenix, AZ 85004
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