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Should You Accept a Plea Deal Offer or Go to Trial in Queens?
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Should You Accept a Plea Deal Offer or Go to Trial in Queens?
Facing criminal charges in Queens can be an incredibly stressful and confusing time. You may be wondering whether to accept a plea deal from the prosecutor or take your case to trial. This decision requires carefully weighing the risks and benefits of each option. This article provides an overview of plea bargains versus trials in Queens to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding Plea Bargains in Queens
Over 90% of criminal cases in Queens result in a plea bargain rather than going to trial. A plea bargain is an agreement between the defense and the prosecutor where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence. Common reasons to accept a plea deal include:
- Avoid the risk of more severe consequences if convicted at trial
- End the lengthy and stressful court process quickly
- Save significant legal expenses of a trial
- Take responsibility for actions and show remorse
Plea deals often come with set sentences, like probation, that the judge typically accepts. This provides more certainty over the outcome compared to a trial verdict. Plea agreements also often drop or reduce some initial charges. For example, pleading to a misdemeanor rather than felony charge.
Considerations for Trials in Queens
While most cases end in plea bargains, you may want to reject a deal and take your case to trial. Reasons to go to trial include:
- Maintain innocence and fight the charges
- Avoid pleading guilty when innocent of the charges
- Chance of an acquittal and all charges dropped
- Possibility of a better outcome than the plea deal terms
Trials allow the defense to argue against the prosecutor’s evidence and create reasonable doubt in jurors’ minds. However, trials come with significant risks and costs too:
- Harsher sentences if convicted versus pleading guilty
- Very lengthy and expensive court process
- Stress for defendant and family throughout trial
- No guarantee jurors find reasonable doubt
Key Factors to Consider
When deciding whether to take a plea bargain or go to trial in Queens, some key factors to weigh include:
- Strength of the Prosecution’s Case – If very strong evidence against you, may be wise to bargain.
- Potential Sentence Differences – Evaluate if post-trial conviction sentences much harsher.
- Prior Criminal History – Extensive records mean prosecutors less willing to bargain.
- Immigration Status Concerns – Pleading may allow avoiding deportation.
An experienced Queens criminal defense lawyer can help assess these factors and counsel if bargaining or trial better aligns with your goals. They can negotiate with the DA’s office for a favorable plea deal or build a strong defense for trial.
Queens Plea Bargain and Trial Statistics
Reviewing statistics on pleas versus trials and acquittal rates can further inform your decision. According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, in Queens County criminal courts in 2021:
- 93% of misdemeanor cases ended in pleas rather than trials
- 98% of felony cases were resolved through plea deals
- Less than 1% of misdemeanor cases ended in acquittals at trial
- Approximately 5% of felony cases taken to trial resulted in not guilty verdicts
These figures indicate most cases end in plea bargains. However, felony trials have around a 1 in 20 chance of acquittal based on the evidence and defense argument. Consulting an attorney can help interpret how these statistics apply to the charges and evidence in your specific case.
Getting Legal Help Assessing Your Options
Deciding whether to accept a plea offer or go to trial in Queens is an impactful choice. It requires comparing potential outcomes and risks carefully for your situation. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can provide invaluable guidance through this process. They can:
- Explain all options and likely outcomes in depth
- Negotiate with the DA for a favorable plea bargain
- Assess real chances of acquittal at trial
- Build a strong defense to undermine the prosecution’s case
Reaching out to a skilled Queens attorney from a firm like FindLaw or Avvo provides essential advice for this pivotal legal crossroads. Take advantage of a free case evaluation to discuss your best path forward.
With an attorney’s counsel, you can determine if bargaining for a lighter sentence or taking your chances at trial aligns best with your situation. This will lead to the most favorable resolution to the Queens criminal charges against you.