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 Oklahoma, 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 fulfill certain requirements, such as paying restitution, undergoing treatment, or engaging in community service, in exchange for the suspension of the prosecution for a specified period. If the defendant successfully complies with the terms of the agreement, the charges may be dismissed, and no conviction is entered on their record. This approach is particularly used for first-time offenders or in cases where the public interest may be better served by allowing the defendant to avoid a criminal conviction. It's important to note that the availability and specifics of DPAs can vary depending on the policies of individual district attorney's offices within Oklahoma, and they are not available for all types of crimes. An attorney can provide guidance on the likelihood of securing a DPA based on the circumstances of a case.