Pros and Cons of Plea Bargains

– Bossier City’s Leading Criminal Defense Attorney Weighs in

Police-style dramas for TV viewers have been around since 1949 when Stand By For Crime came on the air. Soon it was followed with the likes of Dragnet, Hawaii Five-O, NYPD Blues, Law and Order, and Criminal Minds. We have a fascination with these televisions shows that show the inner workings and complexities of the court systems and the people involved. There are many scenes where you see a prosecutor and defense attorney haggle over a plea bargain for a defendant. Do the episodes show you the reality that happens in a courtroom or across the bargaining table?

When your freedom is on the line, don’t depend on a TV show you watched to guide you in accepting a plea deal. Instead, you should rely on an expert criminal defense attorney in Bossier City, like David L. White. He has the knowledge and extensive experience dealing with local prosecutors to get you a satisfactory plea agreement when possible so that you can get back to your life.

Learn the Pros and Cons of Accepting a Plea Bargain
Life is not like the drama on TV. Before you accept a plea bargain, discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your lawyer first, including:

  • Pros
    • You may receive a lighter sentence. This could mean less time sitting in jail than if you were convicted of the crime after a full trial.
    • Your charges may be reduced. Instead of facing a felony, you may be charged with a misdemeanor. There are generally different consequences for different charges.
    • Once a plea agreement is accepted, the case may be over. You will still have to face the court, but you’ll know what the outcome should be. It removes the uncertainty that occurs when you stand trial.
  • Cons
    • You may be accepting a conviction that could not have been proved. Sometimes a defendant is offered a plea bargain because the state’s case is weak. It’s possible they don’t have credible witnesses or have other issues that could give them problems with winning the case.
    • You are accepting guilt for the crime. If you are genuinely not guilty of the crime and you take a plea agreement, you are basically saying you are guilty. In turn, you will have that conviction on your record forever.
    • You may feel pressure to accept. Everything may seem overwhelming, and the prosecutor may take advantage of that by painting a grim picture of the maximum punishment possible.
    • The court is not bound to the agreement. Even after everything is present and agreed upon, the judge may reject it. You may have no recourse and will be at the mercy of the court.

Don’t Sign a Plea Bargain Before Consulting a Criminal Defense Attorney

Before accepting any plea bargain, call David L. White in Bossier City. He will fight for your rights and see that you get a fair deal if a plea agreement is necessary. His team is understanding and works hard to get you through the process and out of a tough situation. Get your life back. Call us today!

Contact your criminal defense attorney in Bossier City to find out more. Give us a call at 318-747-7023.