But when they enter into a plea, they give up their right for a trial. But it's a contract between the offender and the state. Victim advocates from Mothers Against Drunk Driving said that when a plea agreement falls apart it often harms the healing process for families who have lost a loved one. Victims are ready for sentencing. Then the offenders are allowed to pull the plea at the last minute.
Victims live by calendar dates.
Despite the chance that something could go wrong at the last moment, Wright defends the plea-bargaining system. If the plea has been handled correctly, most victims and the families are supportive and understand the reasoning because they are supposed to be a part of it. And convictions are not always certain. Sometimes, though, cases are so heinous, they just have to go to trial. Wright, who has been with the District Attorney's Office since 1979, said she has cases she has worked on for as long as 17 years that are still not closed.