No. The vast majority of Providence criminal cases resolve at the pre-trial stage through dismissal, negotiated plea, or diversion programs. Studies of similar court systems show over 90 percent of criminal cases resolve without trial. Trials happen when the defense and prosecution cannot agree on terms, when the defense has strong grounds to challenge the evidence, or when the defendant insists on a trial verdict. Going to trial is a strategic decision that should be made with a lawyer who has reviewed all the discovery, weighed the strength of the evidence, and assessed the realistic risk of conviction at trial versus the offered plea terms.
