A tough, knowledgeable criminal defense attorney can mean the difference between jail or freedom. What happens after an arrest today in real life is very different from what you see on TV. It is very unlikely that you will have a jury trial. Most arrests today lead to a plea bargain, which means what you really want to shop around for is a Joliet criminal defense lawyer who has established trust and a professional reputation with as many district attorneys as possible in the area.Â
A plea bargain is when the State’s Attorney and the defendant’s lawyer mutually agree to what the defendant’s sentence will be. The reason plea bargaining is so popular as an alternative to jury trials with judges and juries is because they are cheaper for the taxpayers, they are faster, and they are easier.Â
From an overworked State’s Attorney’s point of view, a plea bargain saves countless hours gathering witness testimony, researching, and dealing with things like jury selection. From you and your lawyer’s perspective, a plea bargain means you know exactly what your sentence will be without the anxiety and drain of a jury trial, in which a wide variety of outcomes could arise.Â
You’ll also save on legal fees. You are in no way required to accept a plea bargain deal, but it never hurts to see what the District Attorney is willing to offer your attorney.
As you can imagine, negotiating is a crucial element of obtaining the best possible outcome for your case. Sabuco Beck has curated deep relationships with the states’ attorneys and judges in Will County and Grundy County. This is a vast network. These relationships are built slowly over time by consistently turning in properly-formatted paperwork, showing up on time for hearings and meetings, and generally showing competence, professionalism, and expertise. This means that we have knowledge and experience on how to best handle each different State’s Attorney. All of this is crucial in determining what kind of plea bargain you can get.
If you chose not to plea bargain, and you ended up with an unfavorable verdict, you most likely have the option to appeal the court’s decision. Many people who come to us on appeal used a court-appointed public defender or a private lawyer that they feel mishandled their case. Either way, there is a time limit on filing for an appeal, so don’t delay in contacting your Joliet criminal defense lawyer. The appeals process is different from the original trial and requires a different subset of skills and knowledge. Please don’t delay in reaching out to us today to see if you qualify for an appeal.
Regardless of where you are in the process, at Sabuco Beck, P.C., our criminal defense lawyers in Joliet can help you with your criminal charge. Contact us today for a consultation.