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Criminal procedure

deferred prosecution agreement

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 Rhode Island, 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 return, the defendant agrees to meet specific requirements, which may include paying fines, undergoing treatment, or engaging in community service. If the defendant fulfills the conditions of the agreement, the charges may be dismissed, meaning there is no criminal conviction on the defendant's record. DPAs are particularly useful in cases where the public interest may be better served by allowing a defendant to avoid conviction and instead take steps to address the underlying behavior that led to the alleged offense. It's important to note that the availability and specific terms of DPAs can vary, and they are subject to the discretion of the prosecutors and the approval of the court.

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Criminal procedure

deferred prosecution agreement

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Criminal procedure

deferred prosecution agreement

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