What is a plea bargain in a federal criminal case?

A plea bargain is a form of negotiation between the prosecutor and defendant in a federal criminal case in North Carolina. It occurs when the defendant agrees to plead guilty to one or more charges in exchange for a lesser sentence than the maximum possible sentence under state or federal law. A plea bargain can also involve an agreement that the defendant will provide information to the prosecutor that can be used to further an investigation or prosecution of the defendant or another person. In other cases, the defendant may agree to plead guilty to a more serious charge than the one he or she was originally accused of in exchange for a lesser sentence. In a plea bargain, the prosecutor and defendant often settle on a sentence that they both feel is fair. This is usually lower than the sentence the defendant would receive if found guilty in a trial. When the defendant agrees to a plea bargain, the court typically takes into consideration the terms of the agreement and may sentence the defendant according to what was agreed to in the plea bargain. The judge may also reject the plea bargain agreement if they deem it too lenient. Plea bargains are important in criminal justice because they help to reduce the likelihood of wrongful convictions, ease court backlogs and help prosecutors and defendants avoid the time and stress of a long criminal trial. Ultimately, a plea bargain gives both parties peace of mind that the sentence reflects a fair and just outcome.

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What is a plea bargain in a federal criminal case?

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