Assignment Task:
If I were arrested and charged with a crime that I did not commit, my emotions would be going all over the place. I would feel angry at the system, for pointing the finger toward an innocent person. I would also feel confused as to how I ended up in the situation and thinking if there was a way it could have been avoided. In this situation, I am offered a plea bargain, 3 years of probation instead of 3 years of jail time. I have a family and a good job to think about. I am fighting for my future, either three years in prison and losing everything or three years of probation and getting a chance to keep everything. I would accept the plea deal. Though wanting to be a lawyer when I grow up, there is a part of me that believes that the system is rigged and that not everything is fair. I wouldn't take my chances of fighting against a case that has convincing evidence against me if it meant a good chance of losing my family. The definition of a plea bargain is, "A plea bargain is an agreement between a defendant and prosecutor, in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty or "no contest" (nolo contendere) in exchange for an agreement by the prosecutor to drop one or more charges, reduce a charge to a less serious offense, or recommend to the judge a specific sentence acceptable to the defense." (Sara J. Berman). More than half of criminal cases end in a plea bargain, and very little actually makes it to trial. Accepting a plea bargain has both advances and disadvantages. An advantage is you get a lesser sentence than what you could have gotten if you took the case to trial. You could even receive a reduced charge. This would be good in the long run, because you could be looking at little to no jail time. Your case/ trial is over, and you can go on with your life (still following the rules and demands set by the court). Some Disadvantages of accepting a plea bargain include, you gaining a criminal record whether you are guilty of the crime or not. By accepting the deal you accept the consequences and are seen as guilty through all eyes of the law. This may not seem like a big deal, however, this could make your future harder. A lot of companies will not hire someone with a criminal record no matter the situation or the story behind it. The company in question would not risk its reputation or credibility. When considering on whether to take the plea deal you may also feel pressured into taking the deal by the prosecutor and your lawyer. Only taking the deal because that is what everyone is telling you to do, not allowing you the chance to really think about the decision in front of you and the effects it could truly have on your life.
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