What is a plea bargain in criminal cases?

A plea bargain is an agreement between a criminal defendant and a prosecutor in a criminal case. It is an exchange – the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge, in exchange for a more lenient sentence than what would be imposed if they were convicted of the initial, more serious charge. In Delaware, plea bargains are common in criminal cases. When the defendant agrees to a plea bargain, they typically enter a guilty plea before trial, which usually means a sentence is determined prior to, or during the plea hearing. The plea bargain agreement may include the reduction of a more serious charge to a lesser offense, or the dismissal of other charges. It may also entail a lighter sentence than what the defendant would otherwise receive if convicted of the initial charge. In Delaware, there are two types of plea bargaining: charge bargaining and sentence bargaining. Charge bargaining is when the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for the dismissal of the original charge. Sentence bargaining, on the other hand, is when the defendant agrees to plead guilty to the original charge in exchange for a lesser sentence than what they would have received if they went to trial and were found guilty. Plea bargaining helps reduce the number of criminal cases that go to trial. It also saves time and money for both the state and the defendant, as well as the court system. Ultimately, a plea bargain agreement can bring resolution to a criminal case without the need for a full trial.

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What is a plea bargain in criminal cases?

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