is it true the only time plea deals are offered is when the state has insufficient evidence to convict?

Question

if this is true, why do so many people plead guilty knowing the state has a weak hand

Answer 1

No. A lot of criminal attorneys opt for a plea deal if the case is good. They think their client might get a better deal than going to trial. 

Answer 2

Absent evidence to win on the top count they might offer a plea for a lesser included offense. However, over 90 percent of criminal charges that are not simply dropped go to plea bargain to save the billions of dollars that would be needed to fully prosecute every case in every crime.

Should be interesting to see how many "Capitol rioters" are actually charged, let alone convicted on any plea bargains, rather than simply executed on the spot.

Answer 3

Totally false. Trials are time consuming and expensive and the prosecutors have an ethical obligation to attempt to resolve the case. More importantly, they have an obligation to dismiss a case if there is insufficient evidence. 

Answer 4

No.  Plea deals are often offered simply because the state has sufficient evidence against more criminals than it has the resources (prosecutors, judges, courtrooms, money, etc.) to bring to trial.  Plea deals are often offered even when the state is certain of conviction, but doesn't want to put in the effort or wants to save resources for other cases.

Answer 5

NO. In  fact, most plea deals are offered for the SOLE purpose of saving the cost of a trial.

Answer 6

it could be true

Answer 7

Not true, most the time a plea bargain is offered to the suspect to gain the confession, save time, and it is explained to the suspect that being found guilty could get more years added on to the sentence.

Plea bargains are offered if the prosecution has an iron clad case and the suspect and his/her lawyer knows it

If you plead guilty to manslaughter instead of going to trial and being found guilty of 2nd degree murder you could avoid 5 to 10 years more time in prison (example).

Trust me the prosecutor has a strong case in plea deals

Answer 8

From what I've heard it's just the opposite.  If their case against the defendant is air tight, they may offer a plea deal for a lesser sentence.  If they have no case, it's unlikely that they'll even pursue charges at all.   

Answer 9

No that is not true. Most of the time prosecutors will offer a plea deal to save the time and expense of nailing down all the evidence. On some charges with insufficient evidence, prosecutors will bluff with a plea deal. That is a very small number of cases. 

Answer 10

either that or they don't want to go through a protracted court case