No one who has been charged with a criminal offense wants to walk away with a conviction. But when the evidence is stacked against you, and you’re limited in your ability to block key evidence from being used against you, it might be time to consider a plea bargain.
Here, you negotiate with prosecutors to figure out what charges they’ll accept you pleading guilty to and what the recommended penalties will be. We know the thought of caving in and pleading guilty in your criminal case can be difficult to accept, but in some instances it can provide you with the best outcome possible.
The benefits of a plea bargain
Although it may not seem like it at first, there are several benefits to a plea bargain. This includes:
- Reducing the severity of the penalties that’ll be levied against you.
- Giving you more control over the outcome of your case.
- Saving you the time, cost, and stress associated with prolonged litigation.
- Providing you with a final resolution to your case that likely won’t be susceptible to appeal.
Therefore, a plea deal could be the best way for you to quickly get through your case, pay your debt to society, and get back to your normal life as quickly as possible.
How to get the most out of your plea deal
Although a plea bargain can have some real benefits, you still have to work to secure the best deal possible. Here are some things to keep in mind as you navigate the plea bargaining process:
- The evidence can give you leverage: If there are evidentiary weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, you need to exploit them and use them as leverage to secure a more beneficial plea deal. So, make sure you have a command of the evidence in play in your case.
- The penalties vary depending on the charges at hand: It’s important to realize that each crime with which you’ve been charged can carry differing penalties. This will help you better identify which offenses you’re willing to plead guilty to while protecting your freedom and your future as much as possible.
- The prosecutor has specific motivations: The prosecutor in your case will have specific motivations that may impact how they approach plea bargaining. If they’re looking to punish you, then they’ll want something more significant as far as penalties are concerned. If they’re simply looking to clear your case from their caseload with a conviction in hand, then they might be willing to give a little more during negotiations. Knowing their motivation can help you strategize.
- Proactiveness can be your friend: Showing that you’ve already taken action on your own to address the problem at hand can go a long way toward convincing the prosecutor and the judge that a harsher penalty isn’t necessary. So, drug or alcohol treatment programs, community service, anger management, and counseling can all paint you in a positive light, thereby giving you an advantage during plea negotiations.
Get the most out of your criminal defense
In an ideal world, you’d be able to fight the prosecution in court and obtain an acquittal. But if the facts of your case don’t lend themselves to trial, then plea negotiations are your best bet. And there’s a good chance that you can get a beneficial outcome out of the process.
So, if you’d like to learn more about what you can do to protect your future through your criminal defense, then we encourage you to continue to read our blog and browse the rest of our website.