Plea bargains have become a standard procedure in criminal cases. "Most people who are charged with committing a crime will have to decide whether to go to trial or accept a plea bargain," says Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Stephen Rodriguez. An agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney, a plea bargain allows the defendant to plead guilty to a less serious charge or to only one of several charged brought. Prosecutor's offer plea bargains to cut down on work loads and costs, keep courts from getting bogged down and jails from getting too crowded.
Defendants are likely to accept a plea bargain if they feel it will result in a lighter sentence than they might receive if the case goes to court. Even innocent defendants may choose to accept a plea bargain because they fear the risk of going to trial. As Rodriguez points out, "Even a totally innocent defendant may want to plea bargain because you never know what will happen at trial. If you get a good jury -- you may win. Get a bad jury and an inexperienced trial lawyer, and you may lose even if you are innocent." By negotiating a plea bargain, defendants know in advance what they are pleading to and what their penalty will be.
With prosecution costs of a criminal trial topping $10,000 per day, prosecutors in Los Angeles County, California are under significant pressure to negotiate plea agreements. Plea offers are made in almost every case, but it is the defendant's decision alone whether to accept or go to trial. It is extremely important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney with expertise in negotiating plea agreements. Defendants should fully understand all the repercussions of accepting a plea offer before making their decision. An experienced criminal defense attorney can explain the details and consequences of a plea offer and aggressively negotiate with prosecutors to get you the best possible deal or take the case to trial for you and win.
If you are considering a plea bargain, you need an attorney with years of experience dealing with the L.A. Prosecutor's office, who will negotiate for your rights and welfare, not his own convenience, who has broad experience as a criminal defense attorney and is not afraid to take the case to trial, and who keeps his clients fully informed with accurate information and clearly explained options. Expert criminal defense attorney Stephen Rodriguez has a proven track record of successfully negotiating with the L.A. County prosecutor's office to have criminal charges dismissed or reduced.
