If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in California, you must now navigate the criminal justice and legal system. This can be a challenging thing especially if you have never been arrested before and do not know what to expect. In theory, every person has the right to prove their innocence and that includes the right to have a trial by a jury. However, some have put forth the notion that that right may be not fully available to some defendants.
The reason for this thinking is because the current criminal justice system appears to strongly promote plea agreements in criminal cases. As explained by The Atlantic, a plea deal is essentially an agreement in which a defendant agrees to say they are guilty in exchange for some lesser punishment than they may otherwise have received. It offers no option for the defendant to prove that they were actually innocent.
For people who may be subject to lengthy prison sentences, a plea deal may be a wise choice and offer the chance to avoid prison or jail or to greatly reduce the length of incarceration. These agreements have risen to popularity for their ability to expeditiously handle criminal cases yet it is important for each defendant to truly be given the right to choose such a deal or to pursue a trial.
If you would like to learn more about the process involved in a plea agreement and how to determine if it may be beneficial for you and your family, please feel free to visit the plea deal page of our California criminal defense website.