What Is a Plea Bargain? A Consultant's Perspective from the Inside

Most people first encounter the term "plea bargain" on television — a harried defense attorney whispering to their client before a judge, a deal struck in a courthouse hallway. But for the tens of thousands of people who face criminal charges in Colorado every year, a plea bargain is not a dramatic plot device. It is often the most consequential decision of their lives.

My name is David R. Carrillo. I spent over 30 years inside Colorado's correctional system, sentenced as a teenager to life without parole. During that time, I watched countless people accept plea deals they did not fully understand — trades that came with collateral consequences no one had explained to them. Loss of parole eligibility. Sentencing enhancements. Impacts on housing, employment, and immigration status that followed people long after their release.

Today, as a consultant and expert witness, I work with defense attorneys across Colorado to help their clients understand what they are actually agreeing to before they sign. That means reviewing the specific terms of a plea offer, evaluating the direct and collateral consequences, and translating the reality of a sentence — what it means to serve that time, in that institution, under those conditions — into language a person can weigh against their alternatives.

If you are a defense attorney working on a case in Colorado and you want a perspective that no textbook can provide, I am available for consultation. Contact me at david.carrillo@drcarrilloconsultingllc.com or call 720-483-4211.