NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL LAWYERS

NJ PLEA BARGAINS IN NEW JERSEY

Plea Agreements in NJ Courts: What Every Defendant Should Know

Criminal cases can have a significant impact on defendants’ lives. It is crucial to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side throughout the legal process to protect your interests. At Todd Spodek Law Firm, our legal team has substantial experience defending clients in New Jersey state and municipal courts.

We strive to obtain the possible outcome for our clients, whether through a plea bargain or trial. This article discusses the significance of plea hearings in criminal cases, guilty pleas, not guilty pleas, no contest pleas as well as civil reservation and why prosecutors offer plea bargains.

Plea Hearing: What It Is and Its Importance

A plea hearing is a vital step in a criminal case where the defendant enters their plea before the judge. During this hearing, the judge informs the defendant of the charges against them. Before that, it is imperative for the defendant to have discussed their available options with their attorney prior to entering a plea in court.

Defendants are given three options during a plea hearing – they can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. A guilt plea indicates that you accept responsibility for committing the crime(s) you were accused of committing; however, with not guilty plea, you deny that you committed any offense at all while at a “no contest” it means accepting sentencing but without risking admission of blame for an alleged crime.

Why a Defendant May Opt for a Guilty Plea

Defendants may choose to plead guilty because doing so might help them receive lesser sentences than they would if they went to trial. A guilty verdict almost always leads to shorter sentences compared to going through trial. When making decisions like these upon an agreement/plea bargain negotiation made between defendant’s lawyer and prosecution can lead to reduced charges and lesser fines.

Moreover, if defendants go through trials and are convicted by jurors, there will be more hearings between the state and defense lawyers involved to determine appropriate sentencing. However, defendants who plead guilty get to have more control over their sentence.

Why Prosecutors Offer Plea Bargains

It’s not just the defendants who benefit from plea bargains – prosecutors do too. Trials take a lot of time, are expensive, and quite draining; therefore, it is in the state’s interest for the defendants pleading guilty. By suggesting plea deals, prosecutors can save both money and resources that would have gone into trials.

Civil Reservation

In NJ courts plea bargains may include civil reservations, meaning that victims cannot sue defendants in civil courts for financial or other losses resulting from their crimes against the victim regardless of whether they pleaded guilty or were convicted. Civil reservation only applies in cases where the offender pleads guilty, and granted by courts most of the time.

Plea Agreements vs. Trials

A plea agreement may seem like an easy and quick way to settle a criminal case but depending on various factors such as individual goals and circumstances unique to each defendant calls for professional guidance from an experienced criminal defense lawyer before accepting a negotiation deal presented by prosecution. Our team at Todd Spodek Law Firm has vast experience handling DUI/DWI cases alongside drug possession and distribution among others.

Conclusion

Todd Spodek is a reputable law firm serving clients in New Jersey municipal and state courts for years now. We are committed to defending our clients’ interests through dedicated legal advice aimed at obtaining favorable outcomes while still safeguarding your rights during trials.
Our experienced attorneys work proficiently in diverse portfolios ranging from domestic violence cases, white collar crime coupled with internet crime amongst others. Please contact us today for a free consultation!