Washington Domestic Violence Plea Bargains
Sometimes, when a person is charged with domestic violence in Washington, they may be eligible to accept something known as a plea bargain that allows the offender to avoid going to trial. No one is entitled to a plea bargain, however, and a lot of it depends on the prosecutor handling the case and your attorney.
A plea bargain is a deal offered to an offender by the prosecutor of the case. Essentially, the offender agrees to plead guilty or no contest to the charges in exchange for, what is usually, a lighter sentence then they could expect if found guilty in a trial. This usually includes less jail time or, sometimes even lesser charges. In many situations a person's defense attorney can work with the prosecution to get a plea bargain or to get their client better terms. Additionally, plea bargains are voluntary and there is no obligation for a defendant to accept an offer.
Getting a DV Plea Bargain in Seattle
In a domestic violence case in Seattle, getting a plea bargain is not always easy. Prosecutors will generally offer plea bargains in situations where they feel the case is not that strong against the defendant. Prosecutors and D.A.s do not like to lose cases. If they feel that there is not a lot of evidence against a suspect or that the defendant has a strong defense, they will be more likely to offer them a deal. For this reason, it is important to have a defense lawyer on your side.
If a defendant is offered a plea bargain, their attorney will help them decide whether or not accepting it would be in their best interest. If the defendant does not take the offer, their case will move to trial and it will be up to a jury or judge to determine their guilt. If convicted in a trial, the defendant will get no say in their punishment and the judge is free to grant the maximum sentence to an offender.
Call a Seattle Domestic Violence Attorney
If you are facing charges for any type of domestic violence crime in Seattle, contact The Law Offices of Steve Karimi today. Attorney Steve Karimi is a former prosecutor so he knows what they look for when making decisions about plea deals. Best of all, attorney Karimi will meet with you for a free consultation in order to discuss your defense options. You have nothing to lose, so call our office now.