Plea Bargaining and Deals Offered by Prosecutors in Sacramento

Plea bargaining is when a prosecutor offers a defendant a deal to plead guilty to a crime, often a lesser crime, in exchange for a more lenient sentence or dropped charges. It's a very common practice used by prosecutors across the country, including here in Sacramento. Let's take a closer look at how plea bargains work, the pros and cons, and some real examples of deals that have been offered by Sacramento prosecutors.

How Do Plea Bargains Work?

Basically, the prosecutor will make an offer to the defendant - if you plead guilty to this charge, then I'll recommend a lighter sentence or drop some of the other charges against you. For example, they might offer to let the defendant plead to a misdemeanor instead of a felony, or agree to a shorter prison sentence than they'd ask for if the case went to trial. There's a few reasons why prosecutors offer these kinds of deals:

• It saves time and resources - Trials are expensive and tie up limited courtroom resources. Plea deals resolve cases much faster.
• It's less risky - There's always a chance a defendant could be found not guilty at trial. With a plea bargain, the prosecutor locks in a conviction.
• To get testimony - Defendants can be offered plea deals in exchange for testifying against co-defendants.
• To manage caseloads - Prosecutors offices have limited resources, plea bargains help them efficiently resolve more cases.

Defense attorneys may also recommend accepting a plea bargain if they believe it's the best outcome their client can realistically hope for. For example, if the evidence against them is very strong, the plea deal may offer a lighter sentence than they'd get if convicted at trial. However, the final decision is always up to the defendant themselves. No one can force them to accept a plea bargain if they don't want to. They always have the right to reject any offer and take their case to trial.

Pros and Cons of Accepting a Plea Bargain

There's a few key pros and cons defendants have to weigh when considering a plea bargain offer:

Pros

• Avoid the maximum sentence - Plea deals often come with reduced sentences.
• Avoid some charges - Prosecutors may agree to drop additional charges as part of the deal.
• Save time and money - Trials can drag on and rack up legal expenses.
• Avoid uncertainty - There are no guarantees at trial, a plea deal locks in an outcome.
• Get out of jail faster - Defendants already in custody may be sentenced to time served.

Cons

• Plead guilty to a crime - Defendants must admit guilt, even if they maintain innocence.
• Have a criminal record - Pleading guilty leads to a permanent criminal conviction.
• Give up certain rights - Defendants waive their right to trial and appeal.
• Agree to testify - Some plea deals require testifying against others.
• Get an unfair deal - Some defendants feel pressured into accepting bad bargains.

As you can see, there's compelling reasons on both sides. Defendants have to carefully weigh the pros and cons with their attorney before deciding whether to accept a prosecutor's offer.

Examples of Plea Deals Offered by Sacramento Prosecutors

Here's some real life examples of plea bargains that have been offered to defendants by prosecutors here in Sacramento:

Dropped Charges

In August 2023, a defendant arrested overseas for two assaults at Sacramento State agreed to plead no contest to misdemeanor battery charges in exchange for felony assault charges being dropped. Instead of facing years in prison, the plea deal gave him a two year sentence.

Reduced Sentence

A Sacramento defendant in the January 6th Capitol riot was offered a plea deal with a recommended sentence of 12 to 18 months in prison. Without the deal, he potentially faced over 5 years if convicted on all counts.

Lesser Charges

In a Sacramento domestic violence case, the defendant was initially charged with felony counts of corporal injury to a spouse and assault with a deadly weapon. Through plea bargaining, prosecutors allowed him to plead to a single misdemeanor battery charge.

Should You Accept a Plea Bargain?

Whether to accept a plea bargain is a big decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Here's some tips on evaluating a prosecutor's offer:

• Discuss it thoroughly with your attorney - Their advice is crucial
• Compare the offer to potential penalties - Will you get less time/charges?
• Consider the strength of the evidence - Is conviction likely if you go to trial?
• Don't feel pressured - You ultimately decide what's best
• Think long-term - How will a plea impact your life going forward?

While plea bargains resolve cases efficiently and can benefit defendants in some cases, they aren't always ideal resolutions. Prosecutors hold a lot of power in the process, and some defense attorneys argue the system coerces defendants into pleading guilty even when they have winnable cases. Overall, the decision depends a lot on the individual circumstances of each case.