A plea deal, sometimes called a plea bargain or plea agreement, is a legal arrangement between the defendant and the prosecution in a criminal case. It involves the defendant agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge or one of several charges in exchange for concessions from the prosecutor. Plea deals can be a strategic option for defendants and prosecutors, as they can save time and resources and avoid the uncertainty of going to trial. Today, we will further explore the concept of a plea deal and why such a deal may be relevant to your criminal case. Remember, if you are facing criminal charges, contact a criminal defense attorney to understand your legal rights and options moving forward.
Further Explaining What a Plea Deal Is
A plea deal is an agreement between the defense and the prosecution in which the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to one or more charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence, reduced charges, or other concessions. Plea deals are often negotiated between the defense attorney and the prosecutor, and a judge must approve them. For the sake of this blog, we will be discussing three types of plea deals, including:
-
Charge bargaining – The defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge, potentially resulting in a lighter sentence or reduced penalties.
...