Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office released new statistics recently. The DA’s office just published a list of sentences for the calendar year 2013. Jurors can be called from all over Tarrant County for jury duty. They assemble in Fort Worth, and are assigned to different courts.
What does the Data show?
Defendants in Tarrant County received a lot of high sentences. Jurors sentenced nineteen people to life in prison. Another fourteen people received sentences between 70 and 99 years. Only thirty defendants received not guilty verdicts from juries. After finding a defendant guilty, a jury would sentence a person to prison or jail time 89 percent of the time.
It’s important to note that every defendant has the choice to plead guilty or to go to trial. That person can have a jury or a judge decide their fate. That person can also enter a plea of guilty. There are any number of reasons why even an innocent person may enter a guilty plea. Attorneys can agree to have charges reduced or dismissed altogether. The data does not show how many trials ended in mistrials, where a jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
How will I know whether to take my case to a jury or not?
I lay out clearly all plea offers with my clients. A client should never leave court without knowing what the most recent plea offer is. Additionally, I make sure all of my clients understand their prospects if they wish to go to trial. No attorney can decide whether a client can go to trial just simply advise. Importantly, a person’s case is unique, and should not be disregarded because other people received large sentences.
If you have any questions about your case and the services I offer, please call 817-231-0023. I offer a free hour consultation to any person with a criminal issue.
