What is the agreement where the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid standing trial for a more serious offense?

• A. Plea Bargain
• B. Grand Jury
• C. Indictment
• D. Double Jeopardy

Answer: (A)

A plea bargain is an agreement in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for dropping or reducing more serious charges or for a lighter sentence, allowing the case to be resolved without a trial. This arrangement benefits both sides: the prosecutor secures a quicker resolution and the defendant may receive a lighter penalty than if found guilty at trial.

Grand jury refers to a group that decides whether there is enough evidence to charge someone and pursue an indictment. An indictment is the formal charging document issued after that decision. Double jeopardy is the constitutional protection that prevents someone from being tried twice for the same offense. These ideas describe separate stages or protections in criminal procedure, not the negotiated deal to plead to a lesser charge.