← Legal Glossary

Plea Agreement

Definition

A negotiated deal between a criminal defendant and the prosecutor in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty (usually to reduced charges or for a recommended sentence) in exchange for concessions by the government. Most federal criminal cases are resolved this way.

Examples

  • Hunter entered a plea agreement with the federal government, pleading guilty in exchange for certain terms — but the government later sought to void that agreement before sentencing.

Related Terms