The PEOPLE v. Whitfield

The question here presented is whether a defendant has the constitutional right to be advised by his counsel of the State’s offer to accept a plea of guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter and to recommend probation.

This appeal is from an order of the circuit court of Cook County dismissing defendant’s petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. The hearing judge found that the prosecutor had told defendant’s attorney that the State would accept a plea of guilty to manslaughter and recommend probation, but he found that the offer was not communicated to the defendant. He held as a…