<- Chapter 3: Arraignment and Pre-trial Chapter 5: Trial ->
This is where you formally declare your guilt and give up your right to a trial. This is done because you have decided that you can not prevail at trial (or can not afford a trial), or your attorney has convinced the prosecution to reduce the original charge in exchange for your plea to a different or lower charge. It is called a "plea offer" when the prosecution offers this reduced charge.
This is another critical step that must be handled by an experienced attorney. If the details of the reduced charge are not properly recited on the record, you may not get the deal you bargained for, and you may receive a more harsh sentence than you anticipated.
Yes. If the so-called deal is not placed on the record, the judge is not required by law to follow it at sentencing. The terms of the deal must be fully understood by the court. Here, you must rely on your attorney to understand the terms and to insure that the judge understands them as well. An experienced attorney knows how to communicate in legalese with the judge.
Generally, No. The conditions where a plea can be withdrawn are beyond the scope of this web page.
Yes. This is another very good reason to have an experienced attorney. A good attorney will know what the judge needs to hear to be assured you will appear at the sentencing.
<- Chapter 3: Arraignment and Pre-trial Chapter 5: Trial ->
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