How is a plea bargain negotiated in criminal defense law?

A plea bargain is an agreement between a defendant and their lawyer and the prosecutor that resolves a criminal case. In Washington, a plea bargain is negotiated in criminal defense law when the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to a lesser offense than that which they were originally charged for. Before a plea bargain is negotiated, both sides must agree on the details of the plea bargain. The defendant’s lawyer will usually provide a defense strategy to the prosecutor and explain why their client should be offered a plea bargain. If the prosecutor agrees, the defense lawyer and prosecutor will then start to negotiate the terms of the plea bargain. Some common terms that might be included are a dismissal or reduction of the original charge, supervision of the defendant during probation, or an agreement to complete a certain class or program. Once the plea bargain is negotiated, the defendant must decide if they are willing to accept the plea bargain or if they would rather proceed with a trial. If the defendant accepts the plea bargain, they will enter a plea of guilty or no contest, and the sentence or punishment is carried out according to the agreement. In criminal defense law in Washington, a plea bargain is an effective way to resolve a criminal case quickly and fairly for both the defendant and the prosecutor.

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How is a plea bargain negotiated in criminal defense law?

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