Know Your Options for Plea Bargains in Your Case
Jan. 23, 2020
Many criminal cases are resolved through the use of plea deals. Reaching one of these requires you to have a basic knowledge of the criminal justice system and the applicable codes. One thing that you should always remember is that you will likely need to have a lawyer to negotiate for you since many prosecutors won't work with anyone other than the defense attorney.
When you decide that you are going to try to work out a plea, you have to think about how the case might be resolved. You can only do this if you agree that you committed the crime you will plead guilty to.
There are different aspects of the case that can be negotiated. The two that are most common are the sentence and the charge. Sometimes, it is possible to negotiate a lesser charge than the one you were originally facing. This might lead to a lesser sentence.
When you can't negotiate the charge, you might jump right into trying to negotiate a specific sentence. Remember that the sentence the prosecution asks for might not be what the court ultimately rules. There is a chance that the court will alter the sentence from the one that you agreed to as part of the plea deal.
In a few cases, fact bargaining is the chosen avenue for a plea. This occurs when you agree to admit to specific facts in exchange for the prosecution not introducing specific evidence or facts into the case.
No matter what type of plea bargain you're considering, remember that you give up your right to appeal the conviction. This is sometimes a deal breaker, so be sure to think about every aspect of the plea and not only the final outcome.