Plea deals have taken over the judicial system and are now used to settle most criminal cases. The American Bar Association reported that they are a feature of 95% of state convictions and 98% of federal ones.
But that does not mean you should use one. While they can be beneficial, fighting the charges could be much more so – as however lenient the sentence offered, a criminal record is not good news. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if offered a plea deal:
How important is proving your innocence?
Most people do not want to be viewed as guilty of a crime they did not commit. Some people would be willing to fight till the last to clear their name. Others would rather just get the matter over with as quickly as possible, even if that means pleading guilty to something they did not do.
What are your chances of beating the charge?
Even if you did commit a crime, there may be a way to beat the charges. But you can only do that if you take things to trial. Getting legal guidance to examine all possible defense options can give you an informed opinion about your chances if you were to go to trial.
Can I negotiate a better deal?
The prosecution is unlikely to make its best offer straight away. With help to negotiate, you may get to a point where you consider it worth making a plea deal. This is especially likely if you hold information that could help prosecutors secure a conviction against the big players in a crime in exchange for more lenient treatment.
With so much at stake, it is wise to seek legal guidance if you face criminal charges of any kind.
