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If a plea bargain is offered, should you take it?

Under some circumstances, a person may feel that he or she will appear guilty no matter how much of a defense is put up. Certain pieces of evidence may seem particularly difficult to combat, and as a result, an accused person may wonder how he or she will get out of the case with even slightly favorable outcomes.

If you are facing such a situation, you do not have to feel out of hope. Even if you worry that you cannot fight back against the evidence that the prosecution has against you, you may want to first thoroughly review your legal options. Feeling hopeless is easy when you do not have the right information, and you may come across some information that helps you see your case in a different light.

What about plea bargains?

In some cases, the prosecution may offer a plea bargain. The bargain or deal involves the defendant, in this case you, pleading guilty to certain allegations in order to obtain some type of benefit. The prosecution may offer to reduce the charges to which you would plead guilty, or you could receive a reduced sentence. The most common types of plea bargains include:

  • Sentence bargaining: This type of bargain is less common than a charge bargain but involves the defendant receiving a lighter sentence. However, a judge must review the sentencing, and certain jurisdictions may not allow this type of bargain.
  • Charge bargaining: This bargain is the most common and involves a person pleading guilty to a lesser charge while prosecutors drop a more serious charge.
  • Fact bargaining: The least common bargain is a fact bargain, which involves a person agreeing to certain facts to keep other facts from being used as evidence.

Of course, it is important to remember that plea bargains are not perfect and do not suit every case. Even if one is offered to you, you may want to give it a lot of thought before agreeing to it.

Making the best choice

It can be difficult to decide whether you should take a plea bargain. After all, it may seem like a lifeline if you do not have much confidence in your case. However, you may want to keep in mind that you have legal rights and can present a criminal defense presentation to the court in hopes of reaching favorable outcomes. You may want to discuss your defense options and the possibility of plea deals with a New York attorney.