The plea bargain is an agreement between a criminal defense attorney and the prosecution to resolve a criminal case and ends with a defendant pleading guilty or no contest in exchange for a reduced sentence or to a lesser charge.  A majority of criminal cases end in plea bargains but they aren’t always the best option if you are facing charges. They simply aren’t the answer in every situation. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help determine whether the offer you are receiving is a good one.

When offered a plea bargain, it’s tempting to take it to make the whole situation “go away”. Prosecutors that are offering this to you are not representing you. They may try to convince you that their offer is in your best interest and if not accepted you would be charged with a much more serious offense and face much harsher penalties. The best criminal defense attorney should explain to you that the offer might be made because the prosecutor just doesn’t have any solid evidence against you and the truth is they may lose at trial. The prosecutor is not your legal advocate, they are trying to get as many convictions as fast as possible because it’s a “win” in their pocket without a long, drawn-out case. To know if what they are offering is good for you, find the best attorney.

Many times, a plea bargain involves a written confession of guilt.  If you are to sign a confession then the judge refuses the plea bargain, you are is stuck with an admittance of guilt that the prosecution will use against you. Sometimes, without consulting with a criminal defense attorney, a defendant may accept a plea bargain to a crime that he didn’t commit, just to end the situation and to avoid cost, hardship, and publicity. It might seem like the lessened charge is better, but no charges should ever be made for anyone who hasn’t done anything wrong.

Sometimes, it makes sense to take a plea bargain rather than go to trial. But you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you understand if the best reason to accept a plea bargain is to receive a lighter sentence, be charged with a less severe crime, or both.

The Bottom Line:  There are many reasons why defendants enter into a plea bargain. But, each defendant and situation is unique. Prosecutors are paid to get convictions. Calling the most experienced defense attorney will help you to be sure you have the right representation to guide you through the plea bargain process to ensure you receive fair and just treatment. And when accepting or rejecting plea bargains, a good defense is critical.  Call me: 513.260.2099