- By Longwell Lawyers
A plea bargain is a bargaining chip used by the prosecution in order to help control the outcome of the criminal case. In this situation, you may be asked to plead guilty or no contest to a criminal charge in exchange for a lesser sentence or a reduced charges. While the outcome still means that you will have a criminal record and all of the penalties associated with this record, it gives you some power in the case instead of blindly leaving the outcome in the hands of the judge and jury. If a plea bargain has been offered to you or a loved one in connection with a criminal charge, it is worth discussing with a defense attorney if accepting the deal is in your best interests.
WHY ACCEPT A PLEA BARGAIN?
There are two significant perks to accepting a plea bargaining that is worth considering during this time. First of all, you may receive a lighter sentence than what may have been received if you went through with the trial. Even more, you may save money on the attorney’s fees that you would have been responsible for if you took the case all the way through to trial.
Some other notable benefits of accepting a plea bargain include:
- Resolving the matter in a shorter amount of time than if the case went to trial;
- Reducing the number of serious records on your record;
- Avoiding the publicity that can accompany a trial;
- Eliminating a socially stigmatizing offense on someone’s record;
- Avoiding the hassle of a drawn-out legal process;
- Keeping others out of the legal arena; and
- Avoidance of deportation.
Choosing to accept a plea bargain can provide numerous benefits to those seeking to reduce the criminal charges they are facing, especially if bringing the case before a judge and a jury seems like it may result in a lengthy prison sentence or significant fine.
If you or a loved one have been accused of a crime and wondering what kinds of options you have moving forward in the legal process, you should speak with an experienced Orlando criminal defense attorney at Longwell Lawyers. We offer a free consultation to help you get the answers you need.
