Up to 97 percent of all federal cases and 94 percent of state cases end with the defendant accepting a plea bargain. This means that the defendant pleads guilty to some or all of the charges that have been brought against them for a punishment that the criminal defense attorney and the prosecutor have agreed to. If you are charged with a crime and your criminal defense attorney is recommending a plea deal, you may be wondering what the pros and cons to this are.

Cons of Accepting a Plea Bargain

• You Have to Admit Guilt

One of the downsides to accepting a plea bargain is that you have to admit that you are guilty. Some people who may not be guilty accept a plea bargain just to move on with their lives quickly or because they don't have the time or money to fight the charges. By accepting a plea deal, you admit you are guilty of the crime and will have a criminal conviction on your record.

• You're Giving Up Your Right to a Jury Trial

The other downside to accepting a plea deal is that you give up your Constitutional right to a jury trial. If you are innocent or feel that you may be found innocent, you may wish to take your case to trial instead. If you plea out your case, you give up your right to do this and can't go back and change your mind down the road.

Pros of Accepting a Plea Bargain

• The Case is Over

One of the biggest benefits to accepting a plea deal is that your case is over. And typically, it is faster to plea a case out than to take one to trial. If your employer will not allow you to return to work until your pending criminal charges are settled, or if you are stuck behind bars because you can't afford bail, accepting a plea deal allows you to resume your life faster.

• You Know What the Outcome Will Be

The other major benefit of accepting a plea deal is that you know what the outcome will be. When you accept a plea deal, you know what charges you are pleading guilty to and what the maximum penalty you will be facing will be. Often, a prosecutor will recommend a lighter sentence so the case doesn't go to trial. When you go to trial, you don't know if you will be found innocent or guilty of what charges and what penalties will be imposed on you. Accepting a deal helps you have some control over your sentence.