Benefits of Accepting a Plea Deal
In a criminal case, the prosecution has an incentive to avoid trial. So, if you’ve been charged with a crime, chances are good you’ll be offered a plea deal. With a plea deal, the prosecution will typically convey to you or your attorney what they would be willing to accept as a penalty to resolve your case without going to trial. Anytime that an offer is made it is important to consider both the known and potential benefits as well as the potential consequences of accepting the deal.
Plea deals will vary depending on the severity of the crime committed and any history of criminal conviction. The wishes of an alleged victim are also taken into consideration by the prosecution. The process for reaching a negotiated plea deal requires the prosecutor and your attorney to discuss the matter of your criminal charges. Through the negotiation process, the prosecution may agree to drop or reduce some of the charges against you. In addition, they may also agree to more favorable sentencing terms. The process may on the surface appear to have several benefits. However, it’s important to recognize that you’re confessing to a crime. There are considerable downsides to accepting a plea deal. Your attorney’s job is to ensure that you are made aware of all the potential downsides when you accept the deal.
Benefits of accepting a plea deal in Florida
One of the key advantages of accepting a plea in Florida is that it provides you with certainty. By entering the plea deal, there is a known result for the defendant. This could remove significant stress from the situation. It can also make it easier to start planning your next steps forward.
Part of what a plea deal can offer involves the negotiation of sentencing terms. Plea deals minimize the risk of receiving the harshest possible sentence. For that reason, plea deals can often be of great benefit to the defendant.
In practical terms, you would have to pay a criminal defense attorney a considerably larger sum of money if the case were to proceed to trial. This is because the cost of preparing for the trial is high. And the experience needed to resolve these cases is even higher. In addition, your plea deal will result in a quicker resolution to your case. Sometimes it could take months or even years to go to trial.
Lastly, when your criminal defense negotiates a plea, they can focus on concerns that are most important to you.
Talk to a Tallahassee criminal defense attorney today
The Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers at Luke Newman, P.A. represent the interests of those charged with serious crimes. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your defense immediately.
