plea bargaining

noun

1. an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant is allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than risk conviction for a graver crime in order to avoid a protracted trial or to win the defendant's cooperation as a witness.

plea bargaining

noun

1. law an agreement between the prosecution and defence, sometimes including the judge, in which the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in return for more serious charges being dropped

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea bargaining¹

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65

Example Sentences

Perhaps nothing contributes more to mass incarceration than plea bargaining.

From Washington Post

Prosecutors also gain benefits from plea bargaining in circumstances such as these.

From The Daily Beast

Plea bargaining has become the mainstay of many a criminal-defense practice.

From The Daily Beast

The objective of plea bargaining is always the same—to capture a benefit, whether large or small, for the client.

From The Daily Beast