Is plea bargaining applicable to drug cases?

226679, August 15, 2017, the Supreme Court declared Sec. 23 of RA 9165 prohibiting plea bargaining in drug cases to be unconstitutional.

What happens when you sign a plea deal?

If you accept a plea agreement, a judge will sentence you without a trial and without a chance to change your mind. The prosecutor may offer a deal for a reduced sentence or no jail time if you agree to plead guilty. This is known as a plea bargain.

What does RA 9165 cover?

– Any act of introducing any dangerous drug into the body of any person, with or without his/her knowledge, by injection, inhalation, ingestion or other means, or of committing any act of indispensable assistance to a person in administering a dangerous drug to himself/herself unless administered by a duly licensed …

What do you need to know about a plea bargain?

A plea bargain is an agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor, in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest (nolo contendere) in exchange for an agreement by the prosecutor to drop one or more charges, reduce a charge to a less serious offense, or recommend to the judge a specific sentence acceptable to the defense.

What happens if you plead guilty to a federal drug charge?

If you find yourself faced with a federal drug offense, you will have a difficult choice to make: stand trial or plead guilty. The Government will make a plea proffer. Your attorney must listen and report that proffer to you. Before the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 was enacted, 15 percent of federal defendants elected to stand trial.

Is the Supreme Court allowing plea bargains in drug cases?

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on April 10 the adoption of a framework for plea bargain deals in drug cases, which was previously prohibited by the Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act 9165. A copy of the notice was was released just recently.

How often does a federal drug case end in a plea?

Before the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 was enacted, 15 percent of federal defendants elected to stand trial. By 2010, the percentage dropped to 3 percent. As we reported here in 2011, nine out of ten federal cases today are resolved through guilty pleas, either negotiated or voluntarily entered into.

How are plea bargains used in drug cases?

Plea bargains are generally offered to defendants before they go to trial. The defendant is offered a lighter prison sentence most suitable to the prosecution in exchange for a guilty plea. For example, if a defendant is charged with multiple counts of distribution of cocaine, he or she may be offered a 20-year sentence.

Can you get a plea bargain in the Philippines?

From 12 years to 6 months: Small time drug cases get plea bargains. But those caught selling and trading over 1 gram of shabu and over 10 grams of marijuana will not be entitled to plea bargain deals. MANILA, Philippines – Small time drug personalities will now be able to get plea bargain deals for a chance to significantly cut their jail times

Can a defendant refuse to sign a plea bargain?

The courts have uniformly recognized that a harsher sentence upon a defendant who rejects a plea bargain and stands trial is not per se unconstitutional. Over half of defendants facing drug charges were convicted of crimes that have mandatory minimum sentences.

How does a plea deal work in a criminal case?

When a deal offered by the prosecution has been agreed to by a defendant, it still must be approved by the judge. How does a plea deal work? A plea deal typically involves pleading guilty (or pleading “no contest”): 1. to a criminal charge in return for a lesser sentence 2. to a lesser charge in return for having the original charge dismissed