After you have been arrested and charged with an offense, your lawyer may talk to you about a plea bargain. A plea bargain is simply an agreement between you, represented by your criminal defense attorney and the state, represented by the prosecutor. Your Lawyer May Negotiate for your charges to be reduced or for a lighter sentence in exchange for a plea of guilty or no contest. There are advantages and disadvantages of plea bargains.
The main advantage of agreeing to enter a guilty or no contest plea is that you will likely receive a lesser fine or a shorter prison sentence than if you went to trial and lost. Your Criminal Attorney in Orange County may advise you to accept a plea bargain if the state has strong evidence against you. The decision of whether to agree to the terms of a plea bargain always rests with the defendant in a criminal case. Your lawyer will not decide for you.
Plea bargains can be arranged between attorneys outside of court. While it may be months before your trial appears on the docket, you can resolve your case quickly with a plea bargain. If you agree to a sentence of probation or community service, you may get out of jail shortly after the judge accepts your plea agreement. In cases where a jail or prison sentence is included in the plea agreement, the defendant can begin their sentence immediately.
As attractive as a plea bargain may seem while you are in jail, there are disadvantages to pleading guilty to a charge in exchange for a lighter sentence. When you accept a plea bargain, you do not get the benefit of a trial. You will not get to present your side of the story to a judge or jury and you won’t be able to appeal the disposition of your case. Your criminal record will reflect the conviction and will be visible to future employers. Your Criminal Attorney in Orange County can explain the benefits and disadvantages of a plea bargain. If you want to enter into a plea agreement, your attorney can attempt to negotiate a deal on your behalf.
Orange County criminal attorney Christopher J. McCann has successfully earned a reputation as an outstanding advocate for clients with knowledge and experience that gets results.
