A criminal defense attorney in Chicago may recommend negotiating a plea agreement with the prosecution if a conviction at trial is very likely. This results in a lighter sentence than would otherwise be the case. The defendant may choose this option to reduce jail time or avoid incarceration altogether. It is sometimes possible to reduce a felony charge to a lesser offense.
When Plea Agreements Are Advisable
Also called plea bargains and plea deals, these agreements are typically made when evidence against the defendant is strong. For example, the person may have been caught in the act by law enforcement or on surveillance video. Multiple witnesses might have seen this individual commit the offense, and there is no alibi. A criminal defense attorney in Chicago works to achieve the most favorable outcomes for clients.
Felony-to-Misdemeanor Conversion
Even if the evidence is not that strong, defendants sometimes prefer a plea bargain to prevent the risk of a harsh sentence that could be imposed after trial. In some instances, a judge will approve a plea deal converting a felony to a misdemeanor. That allows the defendant to avoid incarceration as well as a felony conviction on his or her record.
Examples
In Illinois, many felonies cannot be reduced to misdemeanors. Some of these are obvious, such as murder and rape. Lesser charges can be negotiated for certain felony assault, burglary, and drug offenses. Felony charges of driving under the influence and disorderly conduct are two additional examples in which charges might be reduced.
For more information, contact Cheronis & Parente LLC. today.
