Only a small percentage of criminal cases will end up in front of a judge or jury. While some cases are dismissed or the charges are dropped, many will also end in a plea agreement. This deal is when you agree to plead guilty to a criminal charge in exchange for lesser charges or a lower recommended punishment.
The prosecutor has their own incentive to reach a plea agreement with you. They likely have a lot of cases on their docket, and they do not have the resources to try each and every single one. They also take a risk when they go to trial that they may not be able to prove the charges against you. Prosecutors do not like to lose a case because they look bad.
If you go to trial and you are convicted, there is a much higher likelihood that you may receive a sentence towards the upper end of the range. Although you have the legal right to make the prosecutor prove their case, it is not always the best option for you.
In a plea agreement, you agree to plead guilty to a set of charges. It may not be the original charges that the prosecutor filed. For example, they may have charged the case as a felony, but you agree to plead guilty to a misdemeanor. Everyone gets something – the prosecutor wins a conviction while you reduce your own risk of a long jail sentence. You may even be able to avoid jail time altogether in a plea agreement.
Contact a Marin County Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you have been charged with a crime, you need legal help today. You need the Mason Law Office. You can speak to an attorney by messaging us online or by calling us today at 833.770.1372.
