Timing of plea bargain request

Timing of plea bargain request

It is difficult to generalize about the best time to broach the subject of a plea bargain with the prosecution. Normally, the quicker the case is resolved, the better it is for the defendant. However, as long as discovery is ongoing, counsel must weigh the benefits of an immediate plea bargain against the benefits of waiting longer until the case for the plea bargain is stronger. Careful questioning by defense counsel may disclose that waiting will result in the case being transferred to a more receptive prosecutor or to a court where the sentence may be less harsh.