Pros and Cons of Plea Agreements

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, the prosecution will likely offer you a plea deal. A plea deal, also known as plea bargains or plea agreements, are essentially a negotiation between yourself, through your lawyer, and the prosecutor. In most cases, they involve pleading guilty to a charge and agreeing to a sentence. Plea bargains can be made at any phase of the case.

Plea agreements have both pros and cons for defendants. Below, our Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer outlines what these are.

What are the Pros of Plea Agreements? 

There are many advantages of plea agreements. These include:

• Lighter sentences: One of the biggest benefits of accepting a plea agreement is that the sentence you receive is lighter than what you would expect after losing at trial.
• Certain outcomes: By their very nature, trials are unpredictable. There is always the chance that the jury could return a guilty verdict, and you may face the maximum sentence. Accepting a plea agreement gives you more certainty about the consequences you will face in the future.
• Quicker resolution: Trials can take a long time. You may start to feel anxious about the potential outcome, and you may be eager to move on with your life. If you agree to a plea deal with the prosecution, your case will be over as soon as a judge approves it. This could be weeks or months before your trial would be held.
• Lower legal fees: Due to the fact that trials can take a long time, they can also cause increased legal fees. You can lower the legal fees you pay and other trial-related costs by accepting a plea deal.

What are the Cons of Plea Agreements?

Although plea agreements have many benefits for defendants, they also have certain drawbacks. These include:

• A permanent criminal record: Accepting a plea agreement requires you to plead guilty to a crime. Even if you will face lighter sentencing, you will still have a permanent criminal record. This will follow you around and could limit employment, housing, and academic opportunities.
• Waiver of your rights: When you admit guilt, you waive your right to a trial, your right to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, your right to confront and cross-examine the state’s witnesses against you, your right to appeal the conviction and sentence, and your right to remain silent.
• You cannot clear your name: Accepting a plea deal is an admission of guilt.

Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Indianapolis Can Advise On Your Case

Determining whether or not to accept a plea bargain is a deeply personal decision, and the right decision may depend on the specific facts of your case. At Rigney Law, LLC, our Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer can ensure you know the full benefits and risks so you can make the choice that is best for you. Call us now at 317-623-0989 or contact us online to request a free consultation and to learn more.

Source:

law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-35/article-35/chapter-3/