2 For 1 Jail Time in Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County Jail Bonds > Cobb Co Jail 2-for-1
When someone gets arrested for a crime in Cobb County, GA they will be booked into the county jail in which a 2 for 1 rate may be applicable for the defendant’s time served. This applies to most misdemeanor cases in Cobb and the approval of the 2 for 1 rate is retroactive. However long the inmate spent in jail while waiting for a bond gets counted as “time served.” When the judge approves the two-for-one sentence fulfillment rate, their time served will fall under that rate as well.
Why Cobb County Has 2-for-1 on Jail Time
In an attempt to make life easier for defendants charged with simple misdemeanors, the Cobb County Jail (Adult Detention) allows 2-for-1 on time served. In other words, if the accused is sentenced to 30 days in jail, then they will only have to physically be incarcerated for 15 days minus time served. Since its fairly easy to rack up days in jail while waiting for a bond reduction hearing, many inmates have the option to plea guilty and not do any further jail time.
To draw a clear line between repeat offenders/felons and simple charges, the 2 for 1 deal is not available for felony charges and may not be available for repeat offenders either. Although much discretion is left up to the judge during sentencing, Cobb County has been notorious for making defendants of felony charges do “straight time” and not just 50% of the jail sentence.
How Two-For-One Works for Cobb County Jail Time
The concept of the 2-for-1 sentencing in Cobb is pretty straightforward. If the judge deems the sentence ineligible, then of course this doesn’t apply. Going forward, just know that any jail time is cut in half. With a plea bargain, a defendant might not even have to do any additional jail time if it is a big fear for him/her. Most people will go through life never having to spend one day in jail, let alone two. Some people aren’t as lucky. They make bad decisions, fall in to the wrong crowds, or are victims of circumstance. Society as a whole understands this and is willing to forgive, as long as the defendant serves their punishment. The Cobb County prosecutor is very good at her job and she will make sure that there is enough evidence against the accused to make her case in court. Most innocent people are not being arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. That being said, a defendant shouldn’t have to stay in jail for an excessive period of time either.
A Recent Example in Cobb County with 2 for 1 Jail Time
Cobb County jail’s 2 for 1 on time served helps criminal defense lawyers keep their clients out of jail or at least do as little jail time as possible. One case we saw recently was with a DUI charge. It was the defendant’s first DUI charge in 10 years, but 3 total in their lifetime. Since it was their first in ten, it was treated as a ‘first offense’ in terms of fees and probation. For jail time, it was treated more seriously than a first offense and the defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a year of probation. Only 15 days were to be carried out immediately and the other 15 were tacked onto the back end of the sentencing. The defendant only spent 6 days in jail due to the Cobb County Jail 2 for 1 Rate.
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