What Happens if I Plead Guilty to a Crime in Fairfax?

From the time we’re young, we’re told that admitting we’ve done something wrong is the right thing to do. Beginning at home and moving into school, it’s drummed into us that the best way out of a problem is to admit guilt, accept punishment, and move forward. Sometimes, this is the best course of action. That isn’t usually the case in a court of law, though. Guilty pleas make things easier for the system. For the people making guilty pleas, it usually means guaranteed jail time.

A guilty plea allows the court to pass sentence on a person without hearing their side of the story. It saves time, money, and resources on a trial, which benefits the state. There is often little to zero benefit for the person pleading guilty. A guilty plea usually means accepting prison time and fines. It also means potentially lifelong repercussions. While police, prosecutors, and judges would like nothing more than for people to enter guilty pleas at trial, doing so could be the biggest mistake a person ever makes. This is why if you or a loved one have been charged with a crime, you must consult an experienced criminal defense attorney rather than plead guilty.

What is a Guilty Plea in Virginia?

In Virginia, there are three general pleas a person can make before a criminal court: not guilty, no contest, or guilty.

By pleading not guilty, you deny responsibility for the charges being levied against you. This exercises your right to a criminal trial. The case will move on to discovery, jury selection, and a trial.

A no-contest plea means that you are not contesting the charges. When someone pleads no contest, they neither acknowledge their guilt nor innocence. However, they accept a criminal sentence as though they were guilty. No-contest pleas are often the result of plea bargains. A plea bargain occurs when the state offers a defendant a reduced sentence or no sentence in exchange for a no-contest plea. Plea bargains may be offered and accepted for multiple reasons. If a defendant believes they have a high risk of losing at trial, they may take a plea bargain in exchange for a lesser sentence than they would have received if they were found guilty. The state may also offer a plea bargain instead of a long, drawn-out trial with an uncertain outcome.

A guilty plea acknowledges responsibility for the crime. Unlike a plea of no contest, a guilty plea does not necessarily come with any leniency from the court. By pleading guilty, a person waives their right to a jury trial.

What Happens if I Plead Guilty in Virginia?

Once a person pleads guilty, the judge will pass a sentence, often immediately after the guilty plea has been entered. Once a defendant has entered a guilty plea, they usually can do nothing more.

It can be challenging to withdraw a guilty plea. This means that once a person pleads guilty, they have accepted a criminal sentence and whatever punishment the court assigns them.

There are multiple repercussions to pleading guilty rather than going to trial or accepting a plea deal. These consequences may include but are not necessarily limited to:

  • Difficulty/Inability to Appeal
  • A Permanent Criminal Record
  • Prison Time
  • Fines
  • Difficulty Finding Employment
  • Social Stigma

By pleading guilty, you seriously narrow your ability to appeal. If you lose in a criminal trial, there are multiple grounds for appeal. However, if you plead guilty, your appeal options are limited.

This is because you have admitted your guilt. Some of the only grounds available for appeal may be that you were coerced or misled into pleading guilty. Other options ordinarily available to criminal defendants in the appeals process are not necessarily available to those who plead guilty.

By pleading guilty, you also accept a permanent criminal record. Because you admitted guilt, the charges against you will remain on your record for the rest of your life. In addition to prison time and fines, this criminal record may make it difficult to find employment. Depending on the charges and your sentence, some job avenues may be permanently closed to you. Certain professions require licenses that are not available to convicted felons.

Depending on the charges, you may also have to register with a criminal database and be limited in where you can live. A criminal record also carries a serious social stigma that can permanently impact your relationships with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family. This is why, if you are arrested, you must contact an experienced attorney rather than plead guilty.

What Should I Do if I’m Arrested for a Crime in Fairfax, Virginia?

If you are arrested for a crime, the police and the district attorney will make it seem like a guilty plea is the best course of action. They will play on notions of “doing the right thing,” “being a man,” or “accepting what you’ve done.” This is because a guilty plea makes it easy on them. An easy day for the state could mean the end of your life as you know it. If you or a loved one have been arrested in Fairfax, you should immediately contact The Law Office of Scott C. Nolan PLLC. Scott C. Nolan has years of experience in criminal law and knows the courts will encourage defendants to plead guilty for their own convenience. He’s seen what happens when an unsuspecting person pleads guilty, expecting leniency. He knows the best path forward rarely involves pleading guilty.

He’ll work with every client to mount the best defense and help them ensure they don’t face the negative consequences of pleading guilty.

Being arrested can be a frightening experience. It doesn’t mean you have to accept guilt because the courts want to make things easy on themselves. Don’t accept a guilty plea if you or a loved one have been arrested in Fairfax, Virginia. Contact The Law Office of Scott C. Nolan, PLLC, right away at 703-688-9236.