Most people want to get criminal charges behind them as soon as possible. The court also banks on that, expecting many people to plead guilty to certain crimes.
However, pleading guilty might not actually be the best option. In fact, it might cause some major problems.
Plea bargains
Fair and Just Prosecution states that up to 94% of state felony convictions happen due to plea deals. Plea deals typically involve a person pleading guilty in exchange for a lighter or more lenient sentence. This typically benefits everyone because it saves the defendant from harsher penalties and keeps more cases out of the court system.
However, not everyone should opt for a plea bargain. This especially applies in certain situations, such as the following.
Prosecutors have a weak case
Securing a conviction in a trial is not always guaranteed, no matter what sort of prosecutor you are up against. If your legal aid advises you not to plead guilty because the prosecutor does not have a lot of evidence or grounds to convince the jury, you may want to listen.
You are not guilty
If you have not actually committed the crime for which you face accusations, accepting a plea bargain means you are accepting responsibility and guilt for the crime. Needless to say, this is not ideal for innocent parties.
Of course, it also helps to have a strong defense. With that, you can worry less about the prosecution or the arduous task of winning a jury over because you have hard workers on your side from the start.