To agree to plead guilty to a less serious charge in order to avoid being tried on a more serious charge. The process of negotiation between the prosecutor and the defendant for a reduction of the penalty. The normal rule of law is that judges are not bound by plea bargains although, as past lawyers themselves, they are generally aware of plea bargains and a reasonable recommendation of a prosecutor on sentencing is always heavily considered.

(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"

a method by which the defendant's attorney and the prosecutor try to reach an agreement n how to resolve the case, if the court agrees. This agreement prevents the case from going to trial.

a process during which counsel for the defendant has informal discussions with the prosecutor regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the case to arrive at a mutually acceptable disposal of the case, subject to final approval by the judge. Often a defendant will obtain a less severe punishment for pleading guilty early on as opposed to that which would result from a finding of guilty at trial.

Process where the accused and the prosecutor in a criminal case work out a satisfactory disposition of the case, usually by the accused agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser offense. Such bargains are not binding on the court. Also referred to as plea negotiating.

Negotiations between a defense attorney and a prosecutor in which a guilty plea is exchanged for either a lesser charge or a lesser sentence.

Mutually satisfactory disposition of a case negotiated between accused and prosecutor. Usually defendant pleads guilty to lesser charge/s in exchange for reduced sentence or dismissal of other charges.

Negotiations during a criminal trial between an accused person and a prosecutor. The accused agrees to admit to a crime (sometimes a lesser crime than the one set out in the original charge), thus avoiding the expense of a public trial, in exchange for which the prosecutor agrees to ask for a sentence more lenient than would have been recommended if the case had proceeded to full trial. Judges are not bound by plea bargains, although, as past lawyers themselves, they are generally aware of plea bargains and a reasonable recommendation of a prosecutor on sentencing is always heavily considered.

The negotiation process between prosecutor and defense counsel whereby a person accused of a crime agrees to plead guilty to a reduced charge and gives up his rights to trial.

Negotiations between the prosecution and the defence as to the charges to be laid and the defendant's plea of guilty or not guilty.

Process by which prosecution and defense work out a disposition of a criminal case on mutually acceptable terms, without a trial.

A necessary aspect of the criminal justice process which promotes the speedy disposition of cases without the necessity of trial. Usually, the defendant will plead guilty to SOME of the charges with the prosecutor often recommending a certain sentence and/or the dismissal of other charges. The goal of the prosecutor in plea bargaining is to try to achieve approximately the same result as would have occurred if the defendant had been convicted after trial.

process by which the accused and the prosecutor negotiate a mutually satisfactory disposition of the case. Such bargains are not binding on the court.

Process where the accused and the prosecutor work out a satisfactory disposition of the case. Usually this means the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser offense.

An agreement between the prosecutor and the accused promising that the accused will plead guilty and that the penalty agreed to will be submitted to the judge for resolution of the case.