What is the difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement?

A plea bargain and a plea agreement are both deals between a defendant and the prosecution that are made in order to avoid a trial and reach a conclusion to a criminal case. The two terms are often used interchangeably and for the most part, they mean the same thing. The main difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement is that in a plea agreement, the defendant admits guilt and in a plea bargain, the defendant usually pleads guilty to a lesser offense. In a plea agreement, the defendant agrees to plead guilty to the charge in exchange for the prosecution agreeing to a specific punishment that is generally less severe than the maximum penalty allowed by law. In a plea bargain, the defendant is offered a lesser charge in exchange for a guilty plea. This allows the defendant to be charged with a less serious offense and avoid the maximum penalty they would have faced if they had gone to trial and been convicted of all the original charges. In California, plea bargains and plea agreements are very common in drug crime cases, especially when the prosecution has strong evidence of guilt or when the defendant wishes to avoid the risk of a lengthy prison sentence. In such cases, both parties benefit from the agreement, with the defendant getting a reduced charge and the prosecution avoiding a lengthy and expensive trial.

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What is the difference between a plea bargain and a plea agreement?

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