Plea Bargain
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Plain-English Meaning
An agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or receives a reduced sentence in exchange for avoiding trial.
Legal Context
Plea bargaining is the dominant form of case resolution in the U.S. criminal system — more than 90% of criminal cases are resolved by guilty plea rather than trial. In New York, plea agreements are subject to court approval. The defendant must waive the rights to trial, confrontation, and self-incrimination. The court must ensure the plea is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. Common forms: charge bargaining (plead to a lesser offense), count bargaining (plead to fewer counts), and sentence bargaining (agree to a specific sentence). A defendant who pleads guilty cannot later appeal the facts of the case.
Real-Life Example
Charged with felony robbery, Jason accepted a plea bargain: plead guilty to misdemeanor theft in exchange for probation instead of up to 7 years in prison. The judge accepted the plea. Jason received 2 years probation.
Related Statutes
Related Terms
Source
Based on N.Y. CPL §§ 220.10–220.60. Original B-Legal plain-language explanation.
N.Y. CPL § 220.10
Definitions are simplified for education. Legal meanings vary by jurisdiction, context, and case facts. This definition is original B-Legal content and is not affiliated with or derived from any proprietary legal dictionary.