Plea Bargaining Secrets: Why Most Cases Never Go Trial
Does plea bargaining happen in every criminal case? Nearly always, negotiation is attempted—but not every case settles, says Pierce County, Washington attorney Spencer Freeman. Some are trial-bound from day one because no acceptable deal exists, or the client is genuinely innocent. Even then, a prosecutor sometimes offers something good enough to make avoiding trial's risk worthwhile.
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Answered by Spencer Freeman · Pierce County, WA
Highlights
— why some cases are headed to trial from the very first day
Frequently Asked Questions
Does plea bargaining happen in every case?
Nearly always negotiation is attempted, but not every case settles—some are trial-bound from day one because no acceptable deal exists, or the client is genuinely innocent, though a prosecutor sometimes offers something good enough to make avoiding trial's risk worthwhile.
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