People facing criminal charges often fear the future. Defendants worry about missing work to go to trial. They feel anxious about living with a criminal record. They may also worry about the attention that trying to fight the charges they face might attract.
Between fear of the worst possible penalties and concerns about notoriety, many people want to put a criminal charge behind them as soon as possible. They may believe that pleading guilty is the most expedient solution available. They wouldn’t be alone in that assumption.
The vast majority of people facing charges enter guilty pleas or accept plea bargains instead of taking their cases to trial. A guilty plea can help limit the amount of time spent in criminal court. However, it does not necessarily protect the defendant from the worst consequences possible, including damage to their reputation.
What happens after a guilty plea?
When a defendant enters a guilty plea, several things happen. The courts record their pleas, and the criminal justice process shifts based on their plea. Instead of going to trial, the next step in the process is usually sentencing.
While people often hope that a judge may treat them leniently because they pleaded guilty, that isn’t always what happens. Criminal law judges can still hand down sentences that align with state guidelines. They can incarcerate people or order them to pay the maximum fine allowable under the law after a guilty plea.
The fallout doesn’t end with the sentence imposed by the courts. Even if the defendant avoids incarceration and other penalties that might draw attention, they have to deal with having a criminal record. Employers, potential landlords and various other parties may perform criminal background checks before doing business with an individual.
When people plead guilty, even if the state accepts a plea to a lesser offense, it is standard practice to assume the defendant was guilty of the initial charge. Employers, neighbors and other people may assume that the person who pleaded guilty is a dangerous or unstable person because of their criminal record.
The only way to avoid the reputation damage of a criminal conviction is to fight pending criminal charges in court. Reviewing the pending charges and the state’s evidence can help defendants choose the best solution when they want to avoid reputational damage caused by a pending criminal charge.