Would You Take A Plea Bargain?

Imagine being innocent and in jail, away from your friends and family, struggling on the inside, knowing that that they are struggling on the outside, and that you can do nothing. Regular bills are stacking up, legal bills are due, phone calls and commissary are getting expensive. Your kids don’t understand what is going on and want you to come home. You really, really want to be home too.

You heard stories about Jail, but never thought you’d ever go there. Now you are there, and realize that some of the stories have been exaggerated but some pale in comparison to the real thing. You feel yourself becoming a different person, because on the inside, you have too. You really, really, need to get home. You can’t afford bail and the case keeps getting extended.

Then you are offered a deal… Yes, you would have to plead guilty but to a lesser charge. You’ll get time served, and get back to your family and your life, or begin rebuilding your life with your family. Would you take the deal?

This is just one reason people make deals…

• Sometimes it’s because they are guilty, and they are offered probation or a shorter sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.
• Sometimes it’s because they are innocent and the case is circumstantial but even a circumstantial case can be damning and frightening.
• Sometimes it’s because the case has dragged on for 18 months and counting, with no end in sight, and a plea bargain ends the waiting game.

The Waiting Game is what gets many people, it’s psychological warfare, with an uncertain ending, a plea bargain is an ending.