You lose any negotiating power. You may feel guilty, but not enough to commit seppuku. So you can at least request your mortal body not be placed in the local

You lose any negotiating power. You may feel guilty, but not enough to commit seppuku. So you can at least request your mortal body not be placed in the local hellhole prison, get a more reasonable sentence, etc. This is done by having a lawyer negotiating on your behalf.