Suffolk County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jason Bassett Discusses When to Enter a Guilty or Not Guilty Plea

Suffolk County criminal defense lawyer Jason Bassett releases a new article (https://jbassettlaw.com/when-do-i-actually-enter-a-plea-of-guilty-or-not-guilty/) explaining when a person accused of crimes should enter a guilty or not guilty plea. The lawyer mentions that at the state level, a defendant would have to plead not guilty at the arraignment of all indicted felonies, misdemeanors, and violations. For felonies, a defendant usually needs to enter a plea of “not guilty” after the matter was indicted by a Grand Jury.

“At the Federal Level, as to all charges you would put in your plea of ‘Not Guilty” at the Initial Appearance. In both the State and Federal Courts, pleas of “Guilty” are almost always taken later in the process. At the State Court Level, the prosecution has to provide discovery no later than 15 days after the defendant’s arraignment. Although, in some cases, that time may be extended by 30 days with the permission of the Court,” says the Suffolk County criminal defense lawyer.

The lawyer mentions that if the state court prosecutor makes a pre-indictment offer requiring a plea to a crime, the prosecutor needs to disclose all discoveries not less than three calendar days prior to the expiration date of the offer. If it is either an indicted felony or a misdemeanor, when a prosecutor makes an offer requiring a plea to a crime, they must disclose discovery not less than 7 calendar days prior to the expiration date of the offer.

Attorney Jason Bassett adds that how often a person will have to appear over the course of their case can vary widely on the individual judge and the level of the crime charged. For a criminal matter, a person may have to appear in court approximately once a month for both State and Federal cases. Depending on the specific circumstances of the case, the period between each court appearance can be shorter or longer.

According to the defense lawyer, “At each court appearance, a variety of things can happen: the prosecutor and the defense attorney may negotiate matters related to the case; the prosecutor may provide discovery; future matters may be scheduled; written motion can be filed; evidentiary hearings and even a trial may result.”

Lastly, the lawyer emphasizes the importance of having a skilled attorney when it comes to matters like criminal offenses. Having an experienced lawyer may be able to help the person live a normal life after serving their sentence.

About Jason Bassett Criminal Attorney

Jason Bassett, Esq. has dedicated his practice to defending the rights of those who are accused of criminal offenses. He puts his unique perspective as a former prosecutor to work and provides the best legal assistance he can give to his clients. Mr. Bassett brings a unique combination of skill, experience, and zealous advocacy to provide his clients with the best possible outcomes. Contact him today to schedule a consultation.