Pleading Guilty to a DUI
It may go entirely against your self-preservation instincts. It may go against everything your family and friends have advised you to do. Yet, there may be some added benefits, depending on your case, to plead guilty to your charge of driving under the influence (DUI). If you think you may want to explore this option, then it really should be done so under the supervision of a lawyer to ensure that it is the best option and that you are not making a serious error.
Benefits of Pleading Guilty
As aforementioned, we are in no way suggesting to go around admitting guilt haphazardly. To do so could be disastrous to any legal claim you may have. It is always the best route to not say anything without a lawyer present, because, as stated in our Miranda Rights, “Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.” Yet, depending on the details of your situation, you may want to consider and weigh all of your options carefully. A few of the benefits of entering a guilty plea are:
- Plea bargains may result in lesser penalties. It is always a possibility that if a case goes to trial and you are found guilty, you may face the maximum penalties. Typically speaking, if you take the plea bargain, you may receive a lesser or reduced sentence. For example, instead of serving jail time, you may be ordered to serve a probation period. This may happen because it saves everyone time, including the judge, yet it also shows an amount of remorse. If a defendant is regretful of their actions and is truly sorry, a judge may choose to be more lenient in punishment;
- Publicity issues may be avoided. Whether you are a nameless face in a crowd, high profile, or like most people fall somewhere between the two, bad publicity can devastate a reputation. Imagine your friends and family seeing your face plastered all over the nightly evening news about your upcoming trial for the DUI charge. The more well known you are, the more air time you get. This, in turn, leads to more facts about your past being divulged to the public. Pleading guilty not only shortens and even eliminates that aspect, what is reported is a person who owned up to their mistake and accepted responsibility. Yes, a mistake was made and brought to light publicly, but showing that kind of integrity to admit to it may be self-preserving in and of itself; and
- The comfort of knowing the outcome. Whereas if you go to trial, the outcome is completely in the hands of the judge and jury, if you seek a plea deal, you have some control over the outcome of your case. The sense of security given by the fact that you know the ending can be the overwhelming reason to enter a plea bargain.
If you have been charged with a DUI, the decision is to enter a plea deal or fight it out in a trial. This is an important decision, one that will potentially affect the rest of your life. Therefore, this decision should not be taken lightly or pushed off until later. Charges like these do not simply just vanish and it is typically best to work with someone who has thorough knowledge and experience with the legal system. With over 65 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Stringini & Garvey, P.C. will boldly and aggressively fight to defend your rights. If you are interested in discussing your options, including whether or not you should plead guilty, contact our Addison, IL criminal law attorneys, serving clients in Maywood, Wheaton, Rolling Meadows, Bridgeview, Cook County, and all surrounding Chicagoland areas. Call us today at 630-834-9595 for your free initial consultation.
Sources:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-dui-deals-met-20140905-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/crime/ct-state-trooper-guilty-of-dui-0413-20160412-story.html
