Jail on the Installment Plan

A rural Minnesota judge, tired of seeing the same people come before him repeatedly for drunken driving, is trying something new. Isanti County District Judge James Dehn sentences some repeat drunken drivers to staggered jail terms--allowing them to serve one-third of their time immediately, one-third a year later and one-third a year after that. In between those jail stints, if the offenders can prove they have reformed, they can earn their way out of the remaining jail time. But if they get another DUI infraction, it's back to jail for the full sentence.

Dehn, 52, says he has had phenomenal results....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!