What is a plea deal?

A plea deal is an agreement between a criminal defendant and the prosecution that resolves the criminal case. In a plea deal, the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest to a criminal charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence or for dismissal of other charges. In Florida, depending on the offense, the plea deal must be accepted by the presiding judge prior to being considered valid. Generally, plea deals help the criminal justice system by providing closure to criminal cases without having to go through a costly trial process. This saves the state resources and reduces the workload for prosecutors and defense attorneys. Additionally, plea deals can provide an incentive for criminal defendants to accept responsibility for their actions. However, plea deals can also present problems. For example, they may be used as a way for prosecutors to pressure criminal defendants into pleading guilty to a charge they may not be guilty of. Additionally, plea deals are sometimes used to punish defendants for refusing to cooperate in a criminal investigation. In order to ensure that the plea deal process is fair and transparent, the state of Florida has strict guidelines that must be followed. The presiding judge has the discretion to accept or reject plea agreements based on the facts of the case. Additionally, any plea deal must be given in writing and must be signed by both the defendant and the prosecutor.

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