If you have been arrested for a crime, a million questions go through your mind. Your first order of business is getting out of jail, which will usually include the need to find a bail bondsman. Once you are out of jail and trying to get back to your regular life while defending serious criminal charges, you will need to figure out what to do next. This means you have to determine what type of defense will work for your case, and how much you might pay in fines and penalties. Coming up with an effective defense strategy includes deciding whether you want to enter a plea and possibly go on probation, or enter a not guilty plea and set your case for trial.
For DUI cases your first order of business is to request an administrative hearing to keep your driver’s license, or obtain a modified license that gives you some ability to drive. As for the criminal part of a DUI case, you will need to explore the possibilities involved with entering a plea. Knowing the types of pleas will enable you to make an informed decision:
● Guilty pleas should only be entered in the most sever of case, or where they are required as part of an agreement to go on probation. Most probationary terms include a provision whereby a guilty plea is made, but upon successful completion of probation the charges are reduced to a lesser offense and no finding of guilt is made.
● Not guilty pleas will mean your case proceeds to a hearing. In the time between the entry of the not guilty plea and the hearing, the evidence of your case will need to be prepared so it can be presented to the Court for review.
- A plea of no contest means you are not contesting the charges against you, but you are not admitting them either.
The type of plea you enter will depend on the facts of your case. Your plea agreement will also depend upon the offer made by the prosecution. Before entering any plea though, you will need to have your case carefully analyzed so the choice you make works for you.
If you have questions about how to plead in a criminal case against you, call an experienced defense attorney for help. Skilled criminal defense attorneys in Stuart and the Treasure Coast are here to help you reach solutions that work. Your first visit is a free initial consultation.