Plea Bargaining (Noun)
Meaning
(criminal law) a negotiation in which the defendant agrees to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutor agrees to drop a more serious charge; "his admission was part of a plea bargain with the prosecutor"; "plea bargaining helps to stop the courts becoming congested".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The defendant accepted a plea bargain, opting to plead guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face felony charges at trial.
- Plea bargaining is a common practice in the US, allowing prosecutors to prioritize cases and alleviate court congestion.
- The lawyer advised her client to consider a plea bargain, as it would likely result in a significantly reduced sentence.
- His admission was part of a plea bargain with the prosecutor, in which he would receive probation in exchange for cooperating with authorities.
- Critics argue that plea bargaining can be coercive, with defendants feeling pressured into accepting a deal rather than risking a harsher sentence at trial.