What is the difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law in Virginia, a plea bargain and a plea agreement are both legal arrangements between the prosecution and the defendant in a criminal case. The primary difference is that a plea bargain is a negotiation between the prosecution and the defense that results in the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for some form of leniency from the court, such as a reduced sentence. Meanwhile, a plea agreement is an agreement between the prosecution and the defense that the defendant will plead guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some form of leniency from the court. The primary difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement is that in a plea bargain the defense and prosecution agree on a lesser charge that the defendant will plead guilty to, while in a plea agreement the defense and prosecution agree on a specific charge that the defendant will plead guilty to. Additionally, in a plea bargain prosecutors are typically more willing to offer leniency in the form of a reduced sentence, while in a plea agreement they may be less willing to offer leniency in the form of a reduced sentence. Ultimately, both plea bargains and plea agreements are legal arrangements between the prosecution and the defense in criminal defense law in Virginia that serve to resolve criminal charges. As such, they are both important tools that are used to ensure that justice is served in the criminal justice system.

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What is the difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement in criminal defense law?

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