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 Minnesota, a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is a pre-trial intervention that allows the prosecutor and the defendant to reach an agreement to potentially avoid a criminal conviction. Under a DPA, the prosecution is postponed for a specified period during which the defendant must meet certain conditions, such as paying restitution, undergoing treatment, or performing community service. If the defendant successfully fulfills these conditions, the charges may be dismissed, meaning there is no criminal conviction on the defendant's record. DPAs are particularly useful for first-time offenders or in cases where the public interest may be better served by rehabilitation rather than punishment. It's important to note that the availability and specifics of DPAs can vary by jurisdiction within the state, and they are typically at the discretion of the prosecutor's office. An attorney can provide guidance on the likelihood of obtaining a DPA based on the circumstances of the case and the policies of the local prosecutor's office.