During the course of a criminal trial, there will come a time when the defendant may be offered a plea deal by the prosecutor in the case. The terms of the deal will depend on a variety of factors, including the seriousness of the crime and prior convictions. Before making a decision to accept or reject a plea deal, thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of either option with an attorney from a Criminal Law Firm in Singapore.
There are several things to consider when deciding whether taking a plea deal is the right way to go. The first thing to think about is how likely the prosecutor will be able to obtain a conviction based on the evidence available. Even if the prosecutor has quite a bit of evidence connecting a defendant to the crime, there may be things a defense attorney can do to get some or all of it thrown out of court.
For instance, if police retrieved evidence based on an incriminating statement made by the defendant but the officers didn’t read the person his or her Miranda rights before conducting the interrogation, that evidence may be barred from being used in court.
The second thing to consider is the consequences that may result from losing the criminal trial. If a defendant decides to take a gamble with a jury and loses, the jury could hand down a sentence that is far worse than what the prosecutor offered. An attorney from a Criminal Law Firm in Singapore can advise the defendant about the possible sentence the individual may receive based on factors such as mandatory minimum sentencing and aggravating factors.
Lastly, a defendant should discuss the impact the plea deal may have on his or her life. For instance, pleading guilty to a lesser charge may result in a lower jail sentence or the ability to get probation instead of a jail term.
Negotiating a plea deal can be complex and often involves accounting for many unpredictable factors. Talking to a lawyer from a Criminal Law Firm in Singapore about all aspects of a plea deal is important to make the right decision. Visit Bishop Law to make an appointment with an attorney to discuss an impending criminal case.
