Plea bargaining

Plea bargaining is an alternative to prosecution. The prosecutor may propose it in simple cases and when the person involved admits the facts.

Plea bargaining can only be proposed by the prosecutor for misdemeanours or offenses whose maximum jail sentence would be five or less years.

If the proposed sentence is accepted, the prosecutor asks the judge or the police advocate to validate the plea bargain.

If the judge validates it, the sentence becomes applicable.

If a judge refuses the plea bargain, the prosecutor can decide to go ahead with prosecution.