Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyers on Plea Agreements - William Moore, P.A.

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyers estimate that over 90% of cases are resolved by plea agreement rather than trail. The defendant's guilt and the applicable range of sentences are determined by a plea agreement struck between the prosecutor and Fort Lauderdale criminal defense counsel. In contrast to the public nature of a trial, plea bargaining is often viewed as a clandestine practice. Fort Lauderdale criminal attorneys and Broward County prosecutors have maintained the practical necessity for, and the beneficial nature of plea bargains:

The disposition of Broward County criminal charges by agreement between the Fort Lauderdale prosecutor and the accused, sometimes loosely called "plea bargaining," is an essential component of the administration of justice. Properly administered, it is to be encouraged. If every criminal charge were subjected to a full-scale trial, the Florida State and the Federal Government would need to multiply by many times the number of judges and court facilities.
Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyers have maintained that the disposition of charges after plea discussions is not only an essential part of the process but a highly desirable part for many reasons. It leads to prompt and largely final disposition of most Fort Lauderdale criminal cases; it avoids much of the corrosive impact of enforced idleness during pretrial confinement for those who are denied release pending trial; it protects the public from those accused persons who are prone to continue criminal conduct even while on pretrial release; and, by shortening the time between charge and disposition, it enhances whatever may be the rehabilitative prospects of the guilty when they are ultimately imprisoned."
In most plea agreements, the Fort Lauderdale criminal defendant agrees to plead guilty to a charge in exchange for the Broward State Attorney's promise to drop other charges or to recommend a reduced sentence.