What is a plea deal/bargain?

Derango

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
3,113
1
0
Its basicly when a person who's charged with some crime pleads guilty to a lesser one, agreed uppon by the prosecutor. Its used to help with the congestion in the court system, which is swamped with cases

(Note: POST 1000!! WOOHOO!!)
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Another variety of plea bargain occurs when the prosecutor agrees to limit the maximum sentence on a case in exchange for a guilty plea by the defendant.
 

308nato

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2002
2,674
0
0
I don't know. I am not in the proper social class to know about these things. What does "throw the book at you mean ?" I could answer in detail.
 

yellowperil

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2000
4,598
0
0
The deal can also be a reduced # of charges (if the defendant is charged for multiple ones).
 

AU Tiger

Diamond Member
Dec 26, 1999
4,280
0
76
See Nate Newton. His lawyer pled his case down to 2.5 years in prison minus time already served when maximum possible sentence was 30 years.

Plea bargaining when used properly is great for reducing court congestion and cost, but sometimes people get off too easy.

 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
I had to sign a diversion agreement which is similar to a plea bargin. I was offered the agreement because I had never been arrested or convicted of a crime and my minor consumption arrest was the first. The diversion agreement allowed me to meet certain terms of probation without any prosecution. It cost me $350 to sign it and took a year to complete, but in return I am left with nothing on my record. Plus it was an easy $350 for the county since the prosecutor just had to show me where to sign.