What is a Charge Bargain in Georgia?
In a "charge bargain" the prosecution will let you "plead guilty to a lesser charge," or to only some of the charges that have been filed against you. If you are charged with Drunk Driving and Driving With License Suspended, you may be offered the opportunity to plead guilty to just the drunk driving charge.
In a "sentence bargain", you will be told in advance what your sentence will be if you plead guilty.
Pleading guilty to a felony will result in a felony conviction. In a plea bargain, you do not have a trial. Rather you have a sentencing. At your sentencing, you will learn of the punishment for the crime you admitted to and shortly after, start serving your jail time or whatever punishment has been assigned to you.
A convicted felon may not be eligible for federal assistance. This may include the ability to receive food stamps and pursue higher education, as convicted felons are not eligible to receive grants, loans, or work study. A criminal conviction can have major repercussions. It can affect the individual on a more basic level when he attempts to seek employment.
Federal law and most state agencies now requires background checks and allow disqualification based on conviction in a wide variety of employment areas including education, healthcare services, child and eldercare, financial institutions and transportation. A prior conviction will play an important role in the outcome of all future criminal charges.
Our Criminal Defense attorneys are based in Augusta, GA. If you have been charged with DUI in Augusta, GA (Georgia) and throughout the CSRA, including Columbia County, Richmond County, Lincoln County, McDuffie, Jefferson and Burke Counties, Evans, Appling and Waynesboro.