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.
