California legal term
plea agreement in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “plea agreement” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “plea agreement” mean in California criminal law?
“plea agreement” means an agreement by the defendant to plead guilty or nolo contendere in exchange for any or all of the following: a dismissal of charges, a reduction in the degree of a charge, a change of a charge to a lesser or different crime, a specific manner or extent of punishment. (Cal. Penal Code § 999f)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.