Most Arizona DUI Cases Are Resolved Through Plea Agreements
Although few criminal defense attorneys especially like the term "plea bargaining," the fact remains that only a tiny fraction of criminal cases in general and DUI cases in particular end up in trial, with a jury determining guilt or innocence. Both the prosecution and the defense have ample opportunity to test the strength of their respective positions long before the jurors are chosen and seated. While it's good to have an experienced DUI trial lawyer on your side to protect your interests in court, it's equally beneficial to work with counsel who can accurately assess your risks and negotiate an acceptable plea that avoids them.
Call 888-613-5322 to Learn About Plea Negotiations in DUI Cases
At The Gillespie Law Firm, our DUI attorneys combine skill in the courtroom with sophisticated negotiation techniques to help achieve compromise results in cases where we can't otherwise avoid the risks of trial for you. Our first choice in every case is neither a plea agreement nor a trial defense — it's dismissal of the case by the prosecution or the judge based on our ability to show that the evidence against you can't be used in court, or is too weak to sustain a conviction.
If we can't get the case dismissed, we concentrate on obtaining the best result possible under the circumstances while preparing for trial. In a basic Arizona DWI per se case, that might mean negotiating a plea to reckless driving or an open container violation that can result in much lighter criminal and civil sanctions. On a charge of extreme DWI that could send you to jail for at least 30 days, we might recommend a plea to non-extreme DUI. On any aggravated DUI or felony case, we'll likely aim for the reduction of the charges to a misdemeanor or undesignated offense.
Our attorneys also consider each client's personal and professional circumstances when negotiating a plea. Members of certain licensed professions might not be able to tolerate even a misdemeanor DUI guilty plea, so we might stipulate to heavier sanctions in exchange for a lighter charge. Other people might have their options limited by prior DUI convictions.
Successful Plea Negotiation Depends on Thorough Trial Preparation
While our attorneys are putting together the right plea agreement proposal for you, we're also working to develop as much trial leverage as possible to move the prosecution away from unacceptable positions. Our familiarity with the full range of diversion, home confinement, work release, treatment and community service options can also help find the right combination of sentencing considerations for your circumstances.
The choice whether to propose, accept or reject a particular plea offer always belongs to our client, and it's our role to make sure that you understand completely each of your options. It's also our job to make sure that the upside for each of your alternatives is as great as we can make it.
To learn more about the ways we use plea negotiations in our DUI defense practice, contact The Gillespie Law Firm in Phoenix for a free consultation.
