Plea Processes
If I plead guilty, what happens next?
The judge gives me a sentence
If I am found guilty, what happens next?
Receive a sentence
If I am accused of committing a crime and they have little to no evidence against me, what is likely my best plea strategy?
Not guilty
If I am offered a plea bargain to serve 2 years in prison when my max is 10, is this a good deal?
Yes
Who is on your side/defending you in court?
Defense attorney
If I plead not guilty, what happens next?
I go to trial
If I am found not guilty, what happens next?
I go home
If I am accused of committing a crime and they have a lot of evidence against me and multiple witnesses placing me at the scene of the crime, what is likely my best plea strategy?
Guilty
If I am offered a plea bargain where I have to serve 12 years and my max is 15, is this a good deal?
No
What are examples of evidence?
DNA, guns, bullets, weapons, finger prints, ID, witness
If I plead no contest, what happens next?
I am not fighting the charge, the judge gives me a sentence
If I am found NGRI, what happens next?
I go to a psychiatric hospital
If I am accused of committing a crime and there is equal evidence on both sides, but I do not want to fight my charge, what is likely my best plea strategy?
No contest
If I am offered a plea bargain where I serve 5 years and my max is 10, but I have strong evidence proving my innocence and my lawyer believes we can beat the case, is this a good deal?
No
New evidence
If I plead NGRI, what happens next?
I go to trial to determine if I was not in my right mind at the time of the crime
How long can I stay at a psychiatric hospital if I am found NGRI?
If I am accused of committing a crime and I have a history of mental illness and my mental illness impairs my ability to make informed decisions, what is likely my best plea strategy?
NGRI
If I am offered a deal where I serve 10 years when my max is 25 years, and the commonwealth has strong evidence that proves me guilty, is this a good deal?
Yes
What is a trial?
A process where two attorneys present evidence to the court for a verdict to be made
When you plead NGRI, who will determine if you have a mental illness and were not in your right state of mind at the time of the crime?
A mental health professional
Can I be found "No contest"?
No. You can plea no contest, but you can only be found guilty, not guilty, and NGRI
If I am unsure which plea strategy best fits my situation, who should I ask for advice?
Defense attorney
Is every plea bargain offer going to be a good deal?
No. It depends on the situation
What rights do you lose when you are convicted of a felony VS what rights do you lose when you accept a plea bargain/plead guilty?
convicted of a felony = right to bear arms (own a gun) and right to vote
accept a plea bargain/plead guilty = right to a trial and right to an appeal