What is the difference between plea bargaining and deferred adjudication?

Plea bargaining and deferred adjudication are two common legal options for those facing criminal charges in Texas. Both involve a person pleading guilty to a crime, often in exchange for a lesser charge or punishment, but there are differences between the two. Plea bargaining occurs when someone charged with a crime pleads guilty in exchange for a smaller punishment than they would face if they went to trial and were found guilty. This agreement is negotiated between the defendant and the prosecution and is often used to avoid a longer trial process. Deferred Adjudication is a form of probation that allows the defendant to plead guilty or no contest to the charges but the court does not enter a conviction. Instead, the court sets a period of probation and, if the defendant fulfills the conditions, the criminal case is dismissed and the defendant avoids a criminal record. In summary, plea bargaining involves a plea agreement with the prosecution while deferred adjudication involves a plea with the court that can result in a dismissal of the charges. While both plea bargaining and deferred adjudication offer the potential for a lesser charge or punishment, the key difference is that plea bargaining will result in a criminal conviction while deferred adjudication does not.

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What is the difference between plea bargaining and deferred adjudication?

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