PLEA BARGAINING Definition & Meaning

plea bargaining

noun

an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant is allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than risk conviction for a graver crime in order to avoid a protracted trial or to win the defendant's cooperation as a witness.

plea bargaining

noun

law an agreement between the prosecution and defence, sometimes including the judge, in which the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in return for more serious charges being dropped

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of plea bargaining¹

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Collins declined to comment on Dempsey’s case, but said the pardon process — after years of litigation, plea bargaining and trials — has been “surreal” for the defendants and their attorneys alike.

From

Most criminal cases in the U.S. are resolved through plea bargaining, especially for defendants who cannot afford bail.

From

But, he wrote, “a prosecutor’s alleged misconduct during plea bargaining and sentencing merit the protection of absolute immunity.”

From

Lawyers for some defendants who plead not guilty may engage in plea bargaining, where they negotiate a guilty plea with prosecutors to avoid a trial.

From

The task force’s report stresses that plea bargaining has legitimate uses.

From

Browse