Should I accept a Plea Deal?

Being charged with a crime is a very scary and confusing time. You may or may not be guilty of the alleged crime(s). The evidence may be shaky, hard to understand, or completely false. It is also not unheard of to have additional charges tacked on in an effort to give leverage to a prosecutors plea bargaining practices.  If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, chances are you've heard the words plea deal floated around a few times and you may be wondering if a plea deal is in your best interest.

What is a plea deal?

A plea bargain or deal is an agreement with the prosecution on what offense they are willing to accept to resolve the case and how to suitably punish you for the crime you allegedly committed. Plea deals are unique to each case and heavily depend on the circumstances surrounding your case. The prosecutor is, oftentimes, overloaded with cases. It's, generally, in the prosecutor's best interest to get you to accept a plea bargain. This ends the case for them. They get their guilty plea, a closed case, and another alleged criminal is punished for a crime he or she may or may not have committed. Remember your case, while extremely important to you, is just another case they need closed and off their desks.  A plea deal is almost always in the best interest of the state. It eliminates the need to further occupy the courts time and resources as well as establishes the guilt of the accused. However, it may not be in your best interest to accept a plea bargain, regardless of what the prosecutor wants. 

Should you take a plea deal?

If you've been offered a plea deal, speaking with a good criminal defense attorney is absolutely mandatory. A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer should go over your case, the evidence or lack thereof, and help you accomplish a reasonable outcome. Attorneys at the Mitchell Law Group, Inc., are familiar with Fresno County prosecutors and judges and have extensive experience in the area of criminal defense.  We can review your case and discuss with you whether you should or should not accept a plea agreement. Contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation to discuss your matter.