What is a plea bargain in criminal defense law?

A plea bargain in criminal defense law is when a person charged with a crime agrees to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for a reduction in punishment. This plea deal is offered by the prosecution and accepted by the defendant in order to avoid going to trial. In Florida, the plea bargain process begins when the prosecution and defense attorneys discuss the charges that the defendant is facing and the potential sentence that could be imposed. The defense attorney will then suggest a plea bargain to the prosecution and negotiate on the defendant’s behalf to reach an agreement. Once the prosecution and defense have reached a plea agreement, the defendant must accept the agreement in order for the plea bargain to be binding. In Florida, the plea bargain is then sent to the judge to review and decide whether or not to accept the agreement. If the judge agrees with the plea agreement, the defendant will then be sentenced accordingly. If the judge does not accept the plea agreement, then the case will proceed to trial.

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