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 Ohio, a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is a tool that prosecutors may use to resolve certain criminal allegations without proceeding to trial. Under a DPA, the defendant agrees to comply with certain conditions set forth by the prosecutor, such as paying restitution, undergoing treatment, or engaging in community service. In exchange, the prosecutor agrees to suspend the prosecution for a specified period. If the defendant fulfills the conditions of the agreement, the charges are typically dismissed, meaning the defendant avoids a criminal conviction. DPAs are particularly useful in cases where the defendant is a first-time offender, or where the prosecutor believes that the public interest is better served by rehabilitation rather than punishment. It's important to note that the availability and specifics of DPAs can vary depending on the policies of individual prosecutors' offices within Ohio, and they are not available for all types of crimes.