The Importance And Purpose Of Plea Bargains In Criminal Cases

Posted on: 27 September 2019

If you are currently dealing with criminal charges, one key issue you should research and understand is the process of a plea bargain. Plea bargains are a very important part of criminal cases, and they serve several key purposes. As you face criminal charges, here are some of the most important things to understand about plea bargains.

A plea bargain is something the prosecutor offers

First of all, you should understand that a plea bargain is not something used in all cases, and it is up to the discretion of the prosecutor to make this decision. The prosecutor is a person who works on behalf of the state and has the job of pursuing criminal charges on the cases he or she receives from the police. If the prosecutor wants to offer a plea bargain, he or she can. If the prosecutor does not want to, he or she has this option too. 

Plea bargains are offered to settle cases quickly with guilty verdicts

A plea bargain is basically just a deal between the state and the defendant. This deal allows the court to settle a case faster than it would if the court had to go through an entire criminal trial. It also results in a guilty verdict in all cases. The prosecutor will offer a deal that requires the defendant to plead guilty to a charge, and the benefit to the defendant is that the charge will generally be less severe than the original charge. This means that the court gets a way to settle a case with a guilty verdict very quickly, while the defendant gets a way to have a lesser charge against him or her.

A plea bargain comes with a variety of factors you should consider

When you have the offer of a plea bargain in front of you, it is vital to discuss it with your attorney. A lot of people are hesitant to accept plea bargains, simply because they require pleading guilty; however, accepting a plea bargain is usually the best route to take for any criminal charge you might be facing.

When the court offers you a plea bargain, it is absolutely vital for you to really consider the offer in place, as accepting it might be the best option you have. If you have questions about plea bargains or the criminal charges you are facing, contact a criminal law office.

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