NEGOTIATING DWI and CRIMINAL PLEA DEALS IN ITHACA, NEW YORK AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES

One of the key components in representing a client who is charged with a crime is the PLEA NEGOTIATION. 

In my experience, 98% of all cases are resolved by plea agreements.  There are a variety of skills needed to maximize the offer for the client. 

In every case, it is important to do the following things before any conversations begin with the prosecutor...

1) Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your case.  

This may sound obvious, but it is the crucial first step in deciding how hard to push a negotiation.   You must take the case apart piece-by-piece to see where you may have solid defenses.  

In a DWI case, here's a few brief examples: 

• Was there probable cause to stop the car?  [bad driving, equipment malfunction, etc]
• Was there reasonable suspicion to ask my client to perform field sobriety tests?  
• Was there probable cause to search the vehicle?
• Were the field sobriety tests administered correctly?  
• Were the FST's given under the NHTSA guidelines? 
• What was my client's measured BAC level? 
• Was chemical test calibrated?  When?  
• Was client given refusal warnings?
• What evidence of impairment is there?   Could my client operate a vehicle?
• Was my client coherent?
• Does my client have any medical problems?
• Does my client have any speech problems?
• Does my client have any balance or coordination problems?
• Did my client say anything to the police?
• Did the police do their job correctly?  
• What evidence of operation is there?  Can they prove my client actually operated a vehicle?
• Was there an accident involving property damage or personal injury?

[the list goes on and on...]

Each case has its own set of unique facts and circumstances so it is important to break it down to see where your best arguments may be.  Legal research may be necessary to see what case law may strengthen your case (or hurts it).

2) What is most important to YOU [the client]? 

Once I am armed with the information about how good/bad your case is --I need to talk to you to see what you're most concerned about.

• Do you want to avoid jail at all costs?
• Do you need to retain your driving privileges?
• Do you want to avoid a criminal record?
• Do you want to avoid probation but pay a higher fine

Everybody values these things in a different way so it is important to know what you think "is a good deal."   I also try to explain possible vs. probable outcomes at the outset of the case.  It is critical that both attorney and client are on the same page. 

Next step:  Discuss the case with the Prosecutor.  

This is where negotiating is an art form.  I prefer to conduct these negotiations face to face if it's possible.  

In an adversarial justice system like ours --it is important to "know thy enemy."  If you deal regularly with certain prosecutors then you have an idea of what they're likely or not likely to go along with before you walk into the room.  This can be very helpful.

Often the first offer given by the prosecutor is less than ideal.  These offers are usually mailed to the client before the arraignment happens or the client retains an attorney.  I consider them to be a starting point ...but rarely are they the final offer.  

During the plea negotiation, it is my job to poke holes in the prosecutor's case and show them what arguments I would make given the facts.  If there are significant defenses, I can push hard until the plea offer is something reasonable.  Sometimes pushing a case involves going to a suppression hearing or pre-trial hearings until the prosecutor decides it would not be worth it to try the case to verdict.  My own viewpoint is this:  if you push a case as if you're going to trial -then you better be prepared to try the case.   

On the flip side of the coin, if the facts are bad for my client (and there really aren't many defense options), I will try to focus on the "equities" of the case.  In other words, I will focus on the good things about my client (instead of the facts of the case) when negotiating the plea. 

For example,  I recently had an Aggravated DWI case where my client blew a 0.22% BAC and was involved in two property damage accidents in two places on the same night.  She also admitted to drinking 9 alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel.  The facts were bad for her.  

However, during the negotiation I focused on her lack of a criminal history and the fact that she was so honest about her drunk driving and owning up to her mistake when confronted by police.  As a result, the prosecutor went easy on her and she was allowed to plea to a reduced DWI charge (and they dismissed the rest of the charges against her) despite the fact that it would have been relatively easy to convict her at trial on all the original charges.

Ultimately, it is important to consider the case in two lights:  the "big picture" and the "nitty gritty." Both can help give context to a crime and help negotiate a favorable outcome for the client. At the end of the day, my mission is to protect my client the best way possible under the circumstances.

If charged with a DWI or a crime in the Finger Lakes region of New York (Ithaca), call us: 607-229-5184