Everyone makes mistakes at one time or another. While some of those mistakes are relatively minor with no consequences, others can land you or a loved one in legal hot water and threaten you with serious penalties. Those who end up facing allegations of criminal wrongdoing usually fall into two camps. In the first are those who want to fight the charges tooth and nail in hopes of escaping any and all penalties. Those who fall into the second group simply want to take accountability for their actions with as little ramifications as possible.
While fighting the charges levied against you or a loved one might sound tempting, there are some real risks associated with doing so. Then the question becomes whether you should fight or negotiate for the best plea deal possible.
The benefits of a plea agreement
It can be hard to swallow your pride and admit that you were wrong. But doing so in the realm of the criminal law can have its advantages. Let’s look at some of them.
- Reduced penalties: Perhaps most importantly, negotiating a plea deal ensures that you escape the full force of the law. Prosecutors are more forgiving when a defendant admits wrongdoing and accepts a plea deal. In many instances, this means that you or your loved one can escape jail time.
- Less severe conviction: In addition to lighter penalties, plea deals often result in a conviction for less serious offenses. This can be huge to you or your loved one’s future, especially if you’re able to negotiate felony charges down to the misdemeanor range. Doing so might protect you or your loved one’s ability to secure employment, housing, and even financing for educational purposes.
- Save time: Taking a case to trial can take a long time. This means that you or your loved one will have to sit with the uncertainty of the future that awaits. If you’d like to take more control over you future, get your case out of the way, and focus on moving forward with life, then taking a plea deal might be a better option for you.
- Save money: With trials come more court time, hearings, and prep sessions with your attorney. This can cost you a lot of money in a variety of ways. You might have to fork out more for court and attorney fees, but you might also end up missing more work simply to attend your court hearings.
- Avoid the stress: With increased time and money spent on your case as well as uncertainty as to the outcome comes stress. This can be overwhelming for some people, affecting nearly every aspect of their lives from their jobs to their personal relationships. You can cut out most of that stress by resolving your case quickly.
Chose the path that is right for you
A plea deal isn’t right for everyone, but for a lot of people who have been accused of criminal wrongdoing a plea deal gives them the ability to control the outcome of their case to an acceptable extent. There’s no shame in accepting a plea deal compared to fighting the charges levied against you. In fact, many people find that doing so in empowering and allows them to get on with their life much more quickly.
With that being said, you shouldn’t just accept the first offer thrust your way by the prosecution. You still need to be diligent in preparing your criminal defense so that the prosecution knows that you mean business. This can get you the best outcome possible and protect your future to the fullest extent. So, if you’d like to learn more about what a plea deal in your case might look like, as well as how to position yourself to reach that deal, then consider reaching out to an experienced criminal defense firm like ours.