Is it ever worth pleading guilty?

The majority of criminal cases result in a plea of guilty rather than a trial. An early guilty plea can attract significant ‘credit’ which can reduce a sentence (by up to one-third), may assist in achieving a suspended sentence, could make the difference between a custodial sentence and a community order, or even between a community order and a fine.

On the Guilty Plea pages you can find out everything you need to know about pleading guilty, from achieving a reduction in sentence and an advance sentence indication, to plea bargaining, changing your plea and even appealing after a guilty plea.

In summary, the Guilty Plea pages cover the following subjects:

• Pleading Guilty, indicating a Plea, Plea Bargaining and Unfitness to Plead

• Reduction in Sentence (Credit) for a Guilty Plea and for Assisting the Prosecution

• Basis of Plea (the factual basis of your guilty plea), Fact-finding Newton Hearings and Advance Sentence Indications

• Changing Plea (Not Guilty to Guilty/Guilty to Not Guilty) and Appeals following a Guilty Plea.

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