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What is a Plea Deal?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
A plea deal is an agreement in which someone accused of a crime agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. From the point of view of a prosecutor, offering a plea deal can close a case quickly and avoid the time and expense of a trial. Defendants may opt to accept these deals because they are afraid of the outcome of a court trial or because they are not interested in contesting a charge. These agreements are offered in a variety of types of cases.
One method for offering a plea deal involves a lesser charge deal. In this case, the prosecutor agrees to drop more serious charges if the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge. This results in a less severe sentence than might have been received otherwise. Defendants can also make a plea deal for a reduced sentence. In this case, no charges are dropped, but the prosecutor offers a reduced sentence in exchange for the plea.
If the prosecution believes that a plea deal is appropriate, it will approach the defendant's attorney with the offer. The attorney reviews the offer with the defendant and may offer advice about whether to accept the offer, reject it, or renegotiate it. The parties work together on the deal in association with a judge who will determine an appropriate sentence.
In addition to pleading guilty, a defendant may also be allowed to plead nolo contendere or “no contest.” In this plea, the defendant does not admit guilt or claim innocence. It is treated like a guilty plea because the defendant will be sentenced, but it may eliminate civil liability for the case, which can be a concern with certain types of legal cases.
The defendant in the court case may change his or her mind about the plea deal and prosecutors may also revoke the offer and send the case to trial. In these cases, information discussed during the negotiations can only be used in court in a limited way. If the plea deal has been written out and agreed to, attempts to renege on the deal may also be challenged. However, such deals are sometimes not recorded because there are concerns about leaving the details on the record.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
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![A person who accepts a plea deal avoids a trial.]()
By: SVLumaA person who accepts a plea deal avoids a trial. -
![A judge must approve a plea bargain before it is final.]()
By: apopsA judge must approve a plea bargain before it is final. -
![People who make a plea deal usually face a lesser sentence.]()
By: Monkey BusinessPeople who make a plea deal usually face a lesser sentence. -
![Defendants may accept a plea deal because they are afraid of the outcome of a trial.]()
By: Marc RocheDefendants may accept a plea deal because they are afraid of the outcome of a trial. -
![A prosecutor may seek a plea deal in order to avoid the time and expense of a trial.]()
By: James MartinA prosecutor may seek a plea deal in order to avoid the time and expense of a trial.
Discussion Comments
It is a great website for an English learner like me. Those definitions which cannot be found in dictionaries can be found here, helping me with my reading comprehension. Great thanks to the website editors.
I think some people take a plea deal just to be done with the legal process. Spending a few years in prison would still be better than spending life in prison if the jury came back with a guilty verdict.
I've also heard of plea deals involving information about other crimes or criminals. In exchange for a lighter sentence, a defendant might agree to testify against another criminal in another trial. The information usually has to be verified independently before a plea deal can be reached, however. It may be worth it for the prosecutor to cut a deal with a low-level drug dealer in order to get the name of his supplier, for example.
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