Plea bargain

A plea bargain is an agreement in which a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for concessions, such as reduced charges or a sentencing recommendation, ending the prosecution without trial.

Charge bargaining: A plea negotiation in which a defendant pleads guilty to fewer or less serious charges. This is the charge-reduction route to a plea agreement.
United States v. Ruiz: A 2002 U.S. Supreme Court case holding that prosecutors need not disclose impeachment information before a defendant accepts a plea agreement. The decision defines limits on disclosure during plea negotiations.
Criminal trial: A formal court proceeding in which the prosecution must prove criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt. A plea bargain resolves the charge without requiring this adjudication.
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution: The constitutional amendment guaranteeing rights including counsel, a speedy public trial, and an impartial jury in criminal prosecutions. Plea negotiations operate against rights defendants may waive by pleading guilty.
Sentence bargaining: A plea negotiation in which the prosecution offers a sentencing recommendation or commitment in exchange for a guilty plea. This is the sentencing-concession route, distinct from reducing charges.
Brady v. United States: A 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case upholding a guilty plea made to avoid a possible death sentence, when entered knowingly and voluntarily. It addresses whether pressure from potential punishment invalidates a negotiated plea.
Alford plea: A guilty plea in which a defendant maintains innocence but acknowledges that the evidence could lead to conviction. It separates a guilty plea from an ordinary admission of guilt.
Effective assistance of counsel: The constitutional standard requiring criminal defense lawyers to provide competent representation. Reliable advice about an offer depends on competent defense counsel.
Guilty plea: A defendant’s formal admission of guilt to a criminal charge in court. The guilty plea is the defendant’s central act under the agreement.
Wrongful conviction: A criminal conviction of someone who did not commit the offense or was found guilty through a serious legal error. Innocent defendants may accept pleas to avoid the risks of trial.

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