Now that the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be winding down, the prosecution of defendants charged with crimes has accelerated throughout New York State.

While some criminal trials were held during the pandemic, mostly involving serious crimes, many other cases were in limbo. As of last month (March 2022) jury trials of misdemeanors, such as Driving While Intoxicated, have resumed. As all experienced criminal lawyers know, the most favorable results for their clients are achieved by plea bargain on the eve of trial. Why is this? When a trial is about to begin in a criminal case, the prosecutor has to make a final assessment of the chances of a jury convicting a defendant charged with a crime. Likewise, the
criminal defense lawyer and defendant must make a final evaluation of the case to determine the probability of a conviction or acquittal.

The eve of trial is the last time for both sides in a criminal case to decide whether it is best and fairest to come to an agreement on a plea bargain to dispose of the case. There are several factors that have to be considered by each side in deciding whether to proceed to trial. The most critical of these is the risk of the criminal defendant being convicted by the jury and receiving a significant sentence, versus the prosecutor’s concern that defendant he or she prosecuting might be found not guilty and therefore not punished. These are decisions criminal lawyers must make in consultation with their client, before a trial begins.

As a result of all of these factors and issues, retaining an experienced criminal lawyer is extremely important. Craig Purcell of Glynn, Mercep, Purcell and Morrison is just that lawyer. He has tried many serious criminal cases on Long Island and across New York State and has served as chairman of the Criminal Law Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association. If you are charged with a crime in Suffolk County, please call Mr. Purcell at Glynn, Mercep, Purcell and Morrison to discuss your case and decide whether to retain him to help you out in this most difficult time in your life.