If you've been accused with a crime and feel there's enough evidence against you to convict you, you're probably considering a plea deal. Many individuals are unaware that there are several kinds of plea agreements, such as charge bargains, sentence bargains, and so on. Continue reading to learn more, and then call Law Office of Michael L. Fell for a free legal consultation at (949) 585-9055.

Plea bargains: the reality

It's critical to realize that, in most circumstances, plea deals benefit both you and the prosecution. You profit because you will face a lower charge and/or sentence, while the prosecution will save time and money by not having to take you to court. It is important to emphasize, however, that the prosecution does not have complete control. The court must also accept the plea bargain; if it does not, the original charges and punishment will stand.

Charge Bargaining is a term used to describe the process of negotiating the charges you’re facing

The act of seeking to achieve a favorable deal with a lower charge is known as charge negotiating. If you accept this as a defendant, you will plead guilty to a charge that is less serious than the one for which you were originally accused. If you were charged with DUI murder, for example, the case might be reduced to vehicular manslaughter, which carries lesser penalties.

Sentence bargaining's definition

Sentencing negotiation occurs when the prosecution and defendant reach an agreement on a sentence that they can both live with. The prosecution will advocate in court for the judge to impose a certain punishment in exchange for the defendant pleading guilty or no contest to the charges.

By obviating the need for a trial, the prosecution saves time and money. It benefits the defendant since they will face far fewer significant repercussions than if they were convicted of the same offense by a jury. This might imply shorter jail time or perhaps no jail time in exchange for fines and fees.

Plea bargains come in a variety of forms

Two of the more prevalent sorts of negotiating are charging and sentence negotiation, although they are not the only ones. Count bargaining is when a defendant pleads guilty to one or more charges but not all of them in exchange for the additional charges being dropped, and fact bargaining is when a defendant pleads guilty to one fact that leads to a specific conviction but not to other facts of the crime that could have led to additional charges.

Is pleading guilty always the best option if you're facing charges? No, but it's possible. Call Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 right now for a free legal consultation to learn more about the alternatives available in your case.