One Prayer for Judgment Continued every three years per household for insurance purposes; two every five years to protect a license.
A Prayer for Judgment Continued (“PJC”) is a legal tool that allows for a delay or continuation of a judgment in criminal cases. It can have significant implications for an individual’s future, particularly when it comes to their criminal record and driver’s license.
A PJC is a legal motion in which a defendant asks the Court to continue or withhold judgment on a criminal conviction. If granted, it does not result in a conviction being entered into the defendant’s record, even though the defendant may have pleaded guilty to the charge. It allows the defendant to avoid a formal conviction, which can help with future employment as well as licensing.
A PJC is often used in cases involving motor vehicle offenses or misdemeanors, but it can apply to lesser felony charges. A PJC cannot be used for cases involving speeding charges in excess of 25 MPH above the posted speed limit, DWI’s, or passing stopped school buses. A PJC also does not prevent an offense involving a commercial driver’s license holder or offenses committed in a commercial vehicle from counting as a conviction. It is also important to note that a third or subsequent PJC within a five-year period is a conviction.
If a PJC is granted, there is no insurance premium charge or any assessment of driver’s license points. For insurance purposes, an individual can use a PJC once every three years per insurance household (all individuals on the insurance policy.) A second PJC within three years will raise the insurance based on both the original conviction as well as the new conviction.
Whether a PJC is granted or not is entirely up to the discretion of the judge. A judge may grant the request for a PJC based on the circumstances of the case, such as a defendant’s criminal history, the nature of the offense, and whether or not the defendant has shown remorse or taken steps to alleviate the potential consequences of the offense.
While a PJC can often help, it is not always necessary to use. Because a PJC may only be used once every three years per insurance household, it’s important to know when and how to use a PJC to avoid “burning” or wasting one when it is not needed. The attorneys at Law Ley can help review your case and determine if a PJC is the best option for your case.
Nicholas Towell Author
Nicholas Sterling Towell is an Associate Attorney at Ley Law, dedicated to Family Law and Criminal Defense. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida and earned his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. Nicholas was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in May 2024 and is an active member of both the North Carolina Bar Association and the Pitt County Bar Association.
