Georgia DUI Plea-Bargaining
If you ever watch court shows on television, you have more than likely heard the term “plea bargain.” A plea bargain is simply an agreement in a criminal case where the government offers the defendant the chance to plead guilty -- typically to a lesser charge. In some cases it may be to the original charge with a much lighter sentence. Plea bargains give the defendant an opportunity to avoid a stressful trial and risk conviction on a more serious charge.
In a plea bargain, the defendant pleads guilty, normally to a lesser offense. For doing so, Atlanta DUI defense attorney Frank Gomez is able to negotiate a lesser penalty with the prosecutor.
Plea bargains are fairly rare with DUI cases, but it may be used depending on the gravity of the charges and the strength of the prosecution’s evidence.
Prosecutors sometimes favor plea bargains as much as the defense. If the prosecution believes their case is weak or they have a heavy caseload, they tend to be more willing to negotiate a plea bargain. It also helps them to avoid an embarrassing acquittal in a DUI case.
Plea bargains allow the prosecution and defense to have more control over the penalties stemming from a charge than if the case had gone before a judge and jury.
In DUI cases, the prosecuting attorney may come to the defendant and offer to reduce his or her charges from DUI to a minimized charge of reckless driving. This is typically only done if the defendant has a clean criminal record. In return, the prosecution may stipulate certain agreements in a plea bargain agreement, such as attendance in DUI School.
It is important to note that plea bargains may only be made during certain parts of the criminal process. You should hire experienced DUI defense attorney Frank Gomez to guide you through this process. He knows when and how to try for a plea bargain.
If you are interested in avoiding the harsh penalties associated with a DUI conviction, you should immediately contact Atlanta attorney Mr. Gomez today. Please fill out our contact form now to speak with him.
