If you are charged with a crime and haven't hired a Colorado criminal defense attorney yet, the prosecution is probably telling you about all the benefits of simply pleading guilty and getting it over with. This can sound appealing for several reasons. First, hiring a Denver criminal defense attorney might seem like a stretch on your budget. Second, maybe you are factually guilty and don't think you would stand a chance at contesting the charges. Third, perhaps the time it will take to fight your charges.
These concerns are normal, and unfortunately these are the costs and risks of going through the process. I'll look at the three concerns one at a time. First, the cost of a Colorado criminal defense attorney is fairly minor in comparison to the potential costs of too hasty a plea. In addition to the fines and costs you'll incur as a penalty for the plea, there is also the potentially permanent criminal record. This can make it difficult to find a job, find an apartment to rent, and get credit. A Denver criminal defense attorney can craft the plea such that expungement is easiest, if you follow certain steps after conviction. These issues apply to the concern that you don't have time to fight it: the cost of making the wrong plea may be astronomical--the cost of your time may seem like a huge imposition but is probably saving you time and money in the long run.
Second, it doesn't really matter at the initial stage whether you are factually guilty or not. The initial phase of the process is simply a feeling-out process. The very first offer from the prosecution is generally very close to what you would get for going to trial and being convicted--they aren't actually offering anything. Once your defense attorney has had a chance to dig into the prosecution's case and assess its strengths and weaknesses, you will get a much more fair offer.
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