Unless you are a public official, being charged with a crime like drunk driving, is not as bad as being convicted. There is a lot that can be done to prevent a conviction. A related question commonly asked of Washington, DC DUI defense attorneys is “what is a DSA?” A deferred sentencing agreement (DSA) in the District of Columbia is a where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to the criminal charges and be placed on probation for a set period of time. If the defendant fully complies with the terms of his or her probation, the government will dismiss the charges. Officially, this dismissal is called a “nolle prosequi” or more commonly, a “nolle pros.”
In order to get a DSA in a DUI case, your DC defense attorney must ask for one at the first possible opportunity. The prosecution is not required to agree to a DSA. It is considered a discretionary program. As of the time of this entry, the DC Office of Attorney General (OAG), will agree to a DSA on DWI, DUI, or OWI charges if is a first offense, there was no personal injury or property damage, the breathalyzer or urine test results indicated a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of less than 0.10 grams, and the defendant was not rude or abusive to arresting officers. If you can meet these conditions, a DSA in Washington, DC may be available.