In many criminal cases, a prosecutor will offer the defendant a plea bargain. A plea bargain means the defendant will plead guilty to the charges leveled against them in exchange for reduced or eliminated sentencing. Prosecutors view plea bargains as a way to moving cases quickly through the crowded criminal court system while still holding accused criminals accountable for their actions.

Incentives for Taking a Plea Bargain

There are a few reasons why someone that has been accused of a crime should consider accepting a plea bargain that has been offered in their case. Not only will a plea bargain reduce the amount of time a defendant must spend in court, but it provides the opportunity for the defendant to receive a lighter sentence than they would have if the case went to trial and they were found guilty.

In addition to lighter sentencing and less court time, a plea bargain may be a better option for the defendant as it:

• Saves money on attorney fees
• Allows some that have been held in custody to get out of jail
• Reduces the stress of a long court trial
• Includes fewer, less severe sentencing, or less socially stigmatizing crimes on the criminal record
• Removes the need for some to find and hire a lawyer
• Keeps the details of the trial out of the public eye
• Prevents others from going to jail

Being arrested for many people can carry a lifetime of consequences. For those that are facing a felony conviction, taking a plea bargain can reduce the charges to a misdemeanor and prevent many of the negative ramifications that accompany a felony conviction. For example, some professional licenses are voided, employers can choose not to hire the accused, and if convicted, a person will be unable to use firearms or vote. A plea bargain can prevent these from occurring.

While the prosecution seeks to punish anyone accused of a crime to the fullest extent of the law, a crowded court calendar often prevents them from pursuing these cases until the end. This can and should be used in the favor of any accused criminal whose trial outlook is murky. While anyone can accept a plea bargain on their own, a criminal defense attorney will be able to provide better insight into the outlook of the case and whether it should be brought to trial at all.