Attorney Ross Goodman
520 S 4th St,
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 383 –
5088
Fax: (702) 385 – 5088
Plea bargaining happens when
there is an arrangement between the prosecutor and the defendant regarding a
criminal case. The disposition should be agreed on by both parties involved.
Plea bargaining could end a certain case without having a trial procedure. The
most important part of plea bargaining is that the defendant should plead
guilty and confess to the crime that he/she is being charged. The defendant,
consulting a domestic violence lawyer, also waives his/her right to trial and
understands the consequences (charges, maximum sentences, etc) he/she could get
after pleading guilty.
Plea Bargaining in Domestic Violence
The plea bargaining in domestic
violence is often discouraged because it somehow betrays the policies regarding
domestic violence, neglects the fact that the offender should be penalized, and
decreases the gravity of the crime committed. However, plea bargaining is
sometimes considered to spare the victim, even his/her family, from the stress
of having a trial. Some victims find it stressful to testify in front of an
audience which is necessary in trial proceedings.
The following are
some recommendations regarding the use of plea bargaining:
- The intention of protecting the victim,
ending domestic violence, holding the offender accountable and reinforcing
the grave criminal nature of domestic violence should be part of the
approach in plea bargaining.
- The victim should always be consulted by
the defendant.
- Plea negotiation before the arraignment
would be preferred to reduce trauma for the victim and to immediately
start the rehabilitation of the defendant.
- The following questions should be asked
in considering charge reduction:
◦ Is a child
present during the crime?
◦ Were
weapons used? Or were there any threats of using a weapon?
◦ Are there
any injuries inflicted?
◦ Does the
defendant have a history of abuse?
◦ Does the
defendant have any prior criminal record?
◦ What is
the extent of the violence and the evidence presented?
◦ What are
the requests of the victim?
- The results of the plea bargain should
correspond to the sentencing guidelines of the office.
- The reduced charge, if possible, should
emulate the original nature of the crime.
- Using the need for the defendant's
timely rehabilitation as a basis for plea bargaining will be considered if
the importance of its timeliness should be emphasized.
The judge, who does not
participate in plea bargain discussions, may reject the guilty plea and the
disposition itself if the charges do not have any factual basis.
If you have any
concerns about domestic violence and other criminal offenses, consult with Atty.
Ross Goodman, one of the top criminal defense lawyers in Las Vegas.