Civil Rights Violated By Police

A plea deal is a negotiated agreement in a criminal case. The defendant and prosecution agree to settle the charges without a trial. There can be many benefits of taking the deal, but pleading guilty means giving up your rights in court. Read on to learn more.

Some of the benefits of plea deals for defendants include:

• Reduced criminal charges
• Predictable outcomes
• Reduced sentencing
• Probation or deferred prosecution
• Faster resolution

In a plea bargain hearing, the judge will explain the charges to you and make sure you understand what will happen when you plead guilty or no contest. If the judge accepts the plea bargain, the judge will instruct you to admit guilt under oath. When this occurs, you are waiving your rights, including:

• The right to a jury trial
• The right to the assistance of counsel
• The right to a speedy trial
• The right to confront witnesses
• The right to remain silent and avoid self-incrimination

Other consequences of accepting a plea deal may include: 

• Immigration consequences, such as deportation
• Registering as a sex-offender
• Civil confinement, such as being confined to a psychiatric hospital
• The loss or suspension of a professional license
• Gun ownership restrictions
• Loss of benefits

Although once you agree to a plea deal you cannot usually retract your agreement if you meet the following: 

• Ineffective assistance of counsel
• Coercion to accept the agreement
• Ignorance of the consequences