Since you are a first time offender, you have a very good chance of making a
bargain and getting your charge reduced.

Don't take having a criminal record lightly. It will haunt you in every
job/school/etc. application that you fill out for the rest of you life.

Do not, I repeat, Do Not, go to the public defender if you can come up with
the funds to hire an attorney. Legal services is like everything else, you
get what you pay for.





"AnHonestMan" <blor@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:amX8b.10445$NM1.2648@newsread2.news.atl.earth link.net... I've been charged with a misdemeanor and don't intend to contest the charges. I'd like to know what my options are. My limited grasp of the
law would lead me to believe that I can plead guilty, plead no contest, or request court supervision. What would each of these entail? Also, can I meet with a public defender immediately prior to my arraignment and
discuss my case and find out from that person what my options are? And, finally, what would be the benefits of hiring my own lawyer as opposed to having a public defender defend me? I'm not sure but suspect there is a standard deal for first-time offenders such as myself and don't see how I would benefit from having my own lawyer. No defense will be attempted,
afterall. Thanks for any input