DWI is one of the few misdemeanors that regularly carries the possibility of jail, so the worry is understandable. But "possible" is not "likely." The honest answer depends on your record, the facts, and how the case is handled, here is how to think about it.
A first misdemeanor DWI
A first misdemeanor DWI carries up to one year in jail as a statutory maximum, but for a genuine first offender with a clean record and no accident, a sentence that avoids jail entirely, a conditional discharge or probation with conditions like the Impaired Driver Program and interlock, is a common outcome. A reduction to DWAI takes jail off the table as a practical matter for most first offenders.
What makes jail more likely
The risk rises with aggravating facts: an accident or injury, a very high reading (an Aggravated DWI at .18+), a child in the car under Leandra's Law, or a prior record. A second or third offense is a felony and brings real state-prison exposure. Those cases change the conversation, which is exactly why getting an experienced defense involved early matters most when the facts are worst.
What moves the odds in your favor
Two things, mainly: the strength of the defense, a problem with the stop or the testing that leads to a reduction or dismissal, and credible mitigation, such as voluntarily addressing the underlying issue before sentencing when that fits. A former prosecutor who knows what a court and a district attorney respond to can make the strongest case for the lightest outcome.