If you have received drug charges, there is a good chance the prosecutor will offer you a plea agreement. You may wonder if you should take it or not. Here is what you should know about these offers.

The Basics of a Standard Plea Bargain

To speed up the process and avoid the expense of a trial, prosecutors often offer plea agreements to defendants, and if they don't, you can request one. In exchange for you pleading guilty or no contest, the prosecutor may drop one of your charges or reduce the degree of the charge, possibly from a felony to a misdemeanor. 

They may also be able to reduce the penalties, offer probation, or reduce the amount of incarceration you would have to serve. This would be called a sentence agreement and may need the approval of the judge who will preside over your case.

Besides reducing your possible punishment, lowering the charge may help your future prospects involving education, housing, employment, and travel abilities, so many people take them to avoid the stress and chances of conviction at trial.

Plea Offers In Relation To Drug Charges

Many states have laws with mandatory sentencing for drug charges. These vary in degree by the type of drug, the amount, and the action involved. These laws and mandatory sentencing put more power in the hands of the prosecutors, because they are responsible for determining what charges to pursue.

Factors that may influence a prosecutor are:

• How determined the police are to see that you receive heavy penalties. This is because the prosecutors need the police officers' cooperation to pursue other cases, so they would not want to jeopardize the relationship they have with them. Knowing this would be a good reminder to be cooperative with police officers and not needlessly antagonize them with disrespectful or annoying behavior. Politics can also affect your case.
• What kind of criminal record you have. If you have a clean record up to this point, they would be more inclined to offer you a better deal.
• What kind of maneuvering your attorney can manage.  Most defense attorneys who primarily deal with drug cases would be more familiar with the prosecutors involved and thus be in a better position to convince one that you deserved a good deal.
• The degree of evidence they have against you. If their case is weak, they would naturally be more inclined to lessen your charges in hopes you will accept the deal.

Legal Representation

If you have received serious drug charges, you will need to contact a drug charge lawyer that is experienced in handling drug offense cases as soon as possible. They would be able to tell you what your chances are for prevailing at trial and then be able to prepare strategy for it, or they may help you to get a plea agreement that you can live with.