How is a plea bargain negotiated in criminal defense law?

A plea bargain is a legal agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor in a criminal case. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge than the one initially charged in exchange for a more lenient sentence. In Mississippi, plea bargains are usually negotiated through the defense attorney. The defense attorney will review the facts of the case as well as any evidence that might be relevant. He or she then sits down with the prosecutor and attempts to negotiate a plea bargain. The defense attorney will try to get the prosecutor to lower the charge or charges and the sentence that he or she is asking for. In some cases, the defense attorney may also ask the prosecutor to drop certain charges. The defense attorney will also present mitigating factors to the prosecutor that might persuade him or her to offer a more lenient plea bargain. These factors might include the defendant’s lack of a criminal record, their age at the time of the crime, or their lack of intent to commit the crime. The defense attorney will then discuss the plea bargain with the defendant and seek his or her approval. If the defendant agrees to the plea bargain, the defense attorney will present it to the court and seek its approval. If the court approves the plea bargain, the defendant has to plead guilty to the lesser charge and accept the more lenient sentence.

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