Should You Have Plead Guilty?

 Posted on May 28, 2015 in Uncategorized

When you are charged with a criminal offense, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, you might feel like you have no choice but to plead guilty, especially if you are not represented by an attorney. Sometimes, pleading guilty is the best option for you given the strengths and/or weaknesses of your case and the offer extended by the prosecutor. Sometimes fighting the charges at trial or through pretrial motions is much more advantageous.

It is important to fully understand any offer extended to you and all of the consequences of pleading guilty to a particular offense before you plead guilty. For instance, pleading guilty to almost any offense will likely have some immigration consequences if you are not a citizen of the United States. For certain misdemeanor traffic offenses, such as DUI and Driving While License Suspended, a plea of guilty often leads to a suspension or revocation of your driving privileges.

If you are having second thoughts about a recent plea of guilty, you may be able to start over by filing a Motion to Withdraw your guilty plea. However, you must file your motion within 30 days. This deadline is set forth by Illinois Supreme Court Rules and is strictly enforced, as evidenced by the Illinois Supreme Court decision of People ex rel. Alvarez v. Skryd, argued by attorney Jacqueline Aldrich. Contact J. Aldrich Law, P.C. today for a free consultation before it is too late!