Weigh the pros and cons of plea deals offered to you

If you are facing a criminal charge, you have a lot to consider. Once you make your initial plea, you may have the opportunity to mull taking a plea bargain. The primary factor that you must weigh is whether you actually did the crime for which you are charged. You shouldn’t take a plea deal if you don’t agree that you did the crime. This doesn’t mean that you did it exactly how the prosecutor alleges or that you agree with all elements of the case, however.

For example, if you are charged with aggravated assault for hitting someone with a baseball bat, you should only accept a plea deal if, after consultation with your Lincolnton criminal defense attorney, you decide that it is in your best interests to accept the offer from the prosecutor.

When you are trying to decide if a plea deal is in your best interest, remember that you can’t appeal a plea deal. You waive your right to appeal the sentence or the conviction as part of the deal.

Another important point to remember is that the sentence that is present in the plea deal is only what the prosecutor will ask the court to grant. It is up to the court to accept the recommendation. It is fully possible that the court could issue a harsher sentence, but that wouldn’t negate the plea deal.

A plea deal could enable you to resolve the criminal case faster so you can begin to move forward with your life. You must balance the pros and cons of your situation to reach a decision about how to proceed.