What is the difference between a federal plea agreement and a state plea agreement?

A plea agreement is a deal between a defendant and a prosecutor in criminal court. It outlines an agreement for the defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence or some other concession. The major difference between a federal plea agreement and a state plea agreement is the jurisdiction handling the case. Federal crimes are offenses that are against the U.S. federal laws. These crimes are prosecuted in federal court and can include federal offenses like passport fraud, counterfeiting, and tax evasion. A federal plea agreement is reached between the defendant, the U.S. attorney’s office, and the federal court. State crimes, on the other hand, are offenses that are against state laws. These crimes are prosecuted in state court and can include violations like assault, theft, and drug possession. A state plea agreement is reached between the defendant, the city or county prosecutor, and the state court. The most common similarities between the two types of pleas are that they involve the defendant agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence or a concession. What differs between a federal plea agreement and a state plea agreement is who is prosecuting the case and the type of crime.

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What is the difference between a federal plea agreement and a state plea agreement?

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