A deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) is an agreed arrangement between a prosecutor and a person or entity (defendant) to resolve an allegation of wrongdoing that might otherwise be prosecuted as a criminal offense (crime).

A DPA is unlike a plea bargain, a sentence of probation, or a sentence of deferred adjudication, because in those instances the defendant is convicted of a crime—but a person or entity who enters a DPA is not convicted of a crime and the result may be dismissal of the charges.

In Connecticut, a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is a discretionary tool that prosecutors may use to resolve certain criminal allegations without proceeding to trial. Under a DPA, the prosecutor agrees to grant a temporary reprieve from prosecution, and in exchange, the defendant agrees to fulfill certain requirements, which may include paying fines, undergoing treatment, or implementing corporate reforms. If the defendant successfully meets the conditions of the DPA, the charges may ultimately be dismissed, meaning the defendant avoids a criminal conviction. DPAs are particularly useful in cases involving corporate defendants, where the goal is to address misconduct without causing undue harm to innocent stakeholders. It's important to note that the availability and specific terms of DPAs can vary, and they are subject to the discretion of the prosecuting authority. They are distinct from plea bargains, probation, or deferred adjudication, as the defendant does not enter a guilty plea and is not convicted of a crime, provided the terms of the agreement are met.