Final answer:
If Dee had taken the plea deal, she would have likely received a reduced sentence. A plea deal means admitting guilt to a lesser charge for a lighter punishment while giving up the right to a jury trial and might avoid the risk of a harsher penalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Dee had accepted the plea deal counseled by the prosecutor and defense attorney after her arrest, the likely outcome would have been a reduced sentence. A plea deal, or plea bargain, is an agreement in a criminal case between the prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a particular charge in return for some concession from the prosecutor. This could be a lesser charge, a lighter sentence, or both. By accepting a plea bargain, the defendant waives their rights to a jury trial where trial procedures could protect them but also assumes less risk of a harsher penalty if the evidence against them is strong. This strategic move is aimed at mitigating potential legal consequences and is often chosen to avoid the uncertainty and expense of a trial.
Plea bargaining often occurs to allow the criminal justice system to handle the large volume of cases efficiently. According to Criminal Justice: Theory Meets Practice, upon agreeing to the deal, the defendant must admit their crimes in open court and forego the right to appeal. It's essential to understand that plea bargaining is a trade-off where defendants sacrifice certain rights for potential benefits such as reduced sentences.