A plea bargain is a way to avoid a worst case scenario ahead of your court date. During a plea bargain meeting, you’ll connect with the prosecutor’s office and see if a deal can be reached that saves everyone the hassle of going to court. You may fancy yourself a pretty good negotiator, but how can you earn a favorable deal against a professional who regularly argues their case in court before a judge? We share some tips in today’s blog on how to successfully plea bargain your traffic ticket.
Tips For Negotiating A Plea With A Prosecutor
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to consider making a plea deal with the prosecution before your trial date.
1. Come In With A Defense – Don’t just call up the prosecutor’s office and ask them if they’d be willing to make a deal without at least working on your defense plan a bit. Prosecutors like clearing cases off their books, but if your case is open and shut because you don’t have a defense plan, odds are they’ll take their chances in court. Starting developing a defense and consider some arguments against the evidence they’ll likely present, and it can showcase that your case may take up more time and resources than originally thought, and that may push the prosecution to consider a deal.
2. Be Willing To Concede – You’re not going to be able to negotiate a plea deal where the charges are dropped entirely. A plea deal is all about working towards a middle ground. Research what type of ticket or charge your original case could potentially be reduced to, and see if the prosecution will be willing to reduce your original charge in return for you pleading guilty to a lesser offense. Know that you’re not going to be able to get your optimal outcome in a plea deal, but you can avoid a worst case scenario.
3. Don’t Tip Your Hand – Even if you think you don’t have much of a case, don’t make that obvious during negotiations. If you come into the meeting and say “Yea I was going way too fast but I’m hoping you’ll be willing to make a plea deal,” you’re not really offering much of a defense. Don’t just admit that you’re guilty and hope that the prosecution feels sorry for you. Formulate an aggressive defense and make it seem like you’re willing to go to court, even if you’d rather wrap things up then and there, because this will help you during negotiations.
4. Consider What You Want – Again, come in with a plan of what you’re hoping to achieve through negotiations. Perhaps you are hoping for a smaller fine, or a reduction to a charge that allows you to keep your driver’s license. Know what you’re hoping to achieve through a plea deal so that you can present a proposal to the other side once you’ve made your case.
5. Let A Lawyer Bargain – Finally, the best way to earn a favorable plea deal is by letting a defense lawyer go to battle for you. They’ll be able to make a much more convincing argument than you will, and they aren’t going to be intimidated going up against the prosecution in negotiations. Of course, you need to weigh the pros and cons of bringing in a lawyer for a small traffic ticket, but for major offenses or if serious repercussions are on the line if convicted, you need to let a lawyer manage your case and any potential plea bargain negotiations.
We’ve helped countless clients earn a favorable outcome through a plea bargain, and we can do the same for you if that’s the right move for your case. For move information, or for help with a different criminal matter, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
