plea bargaining

plea bargaining
plea bargaining n: the negotiation of an agreement between the prosecution and the defense whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offense or to one or some of multiple offenses usu. in exchange for more lenient sentencing recommendations, a specific sentence, or dismissal of other charges
plea–bargain vi
plea bargain n

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

plea bargaining
the practice by which the prosecutor will alter the indictment in exchange for a guilty plea. In England there are guidelines under Practice Direction (Court of Appeal) [1976] LR 561. It takes place in Scotland too. In the USA, in some states, the judge may be party to the bargain offering the accused a more certain range of sentence.

Collins dictionary of law. . 2001.


plea bargaining
n. A negotiation between prosecutor and defendant in a criminal case in an attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory middle ground and, therefore, obviate the need for a trial. Usually it consists of the defendant's pleading guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lesser sentence than he might receive had he been convicted on the original charge(s).

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.


plea bargaining
The process whereby a criminal defendant and prosecutor reach a mutually satisfactory disposition of a criminal case, subject to court approval.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


plea bargaining
I
The process whereby a criminal defendant and prosecutor reach a mutually satisfactory disposition of a criminal case, subject to court approval.
II Process where the accused and the prosecutor in a criminal case work out a satisfactory disposition of the case, usually by the accused agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser offense. Such bargains are not binding on the court. Also referred to as plea negotiating.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

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  • plea bargaining — 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… …   Universalium

  • plea bargaining — plea bar|gain|ing [ pli ,bargənıŋ ] noun uncount a process by which someone may be allowed to avoid punishment for a serious crime if they admit they have committed a less serious crime ╾ plea bar|gain noun count …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • plea bargaining — plea′ bar gaining n. law a practice in which a defendant in a criminal case is allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than risk conviction for a graver crime • Etymology: 1960–65, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • plea bargaining — UK [ˈpliː ˌbɑː(r)ɡənɪŋ] / US [ˈplɪ ˌbɑrɡənɪŋ] noun [uncountable] legal a process by which someone may be allowed to avoid punishment for a serious crime if they admit they have committed a less serious crime Derived word: plea bargain noun… …   English dictionary

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