If you are charged with a crime, you get the chance to plead guilty or not guilty. Most of the time, the best choice is obvious. You do not want to face consequences for a criminal charge, so you should say “not guilty.” Are there times when you should plead guilty though? It is possible that this could be your best choice, but we would recommend talking to a Des Moines criminal defense lawyer before you make any major decision.
Get Help TodayWhen you are arrested, you should be advised of your rights and told that anything that you say can be used against you. Keep this part in mind and invoke your right to stay silent until you can secure the help of an attorney. There is no need to talk to the police, and it rarely ends up being helpful. You could just end up incriminating yourself accidentally.
So ask for your lawyer and then follow their advice. When you are arraigned and given the chance to make a plea, listen to what they say.
It is rare to have your attorney tell you to plead guilty, but there are some situations in which it is the best option. The most common reason to plead guilty is that your attorney has negotiated a plea bargain with the prosecution. This often allows you to plead guilty to a lesser charge and have the other charges against you dropped.
If your lawyer thinks that going to trial can result in a conviction and that this plea bargain is in your best interest, they will let you know. If you are insistent on going to trial instead, a lawyer can tell you about what kinds of challenges you could face and whether they think that the trial is a good idea. At this point, the decision is largely up to you.
Even if a plea bargain seems like a good idea, you may want to think about some of the other consequences of having a criminal charge on your record. If you plead guilty, people are likely to see your crime any time they do a background check. This could affect your ability to secure employment, housing, or a loan in the future.
You also have to think carefully about the consequences of a guilty plea if you have a professional license of some kind. People working in certain fields, like accounting, teaching, or nursing, often have a license of some sort. They could lose their license if they plead guilty or get convicted of a crime. So you have to be sure that this decision will not derail your career before you plead guilty.
A knowledgeable lawyer from our law firm is ready to help you at every stage of this process. So contact Herting Law, PLLC and schedule a consultation with our team. We can go over your case with you, help you build a defense, and advise you on the best choices to make at your trial.
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