What is the result of a plea bargain in Missouri criminal law?

In Missouri criminal law, a plea bargain results in an agreement for a lesser charge in exchange for concessions from the defendant, such as a guilty plea. This process allows the defendant to potentially receive a lighter sentence or a reduction in charges, which can be advantageous in terms of avoiding the uncertainty and stress of a full trial.

Plea bargains serve the interests of both the defendant and the prosecution by expediting the legal process and conserving judicial resources. In many instances, the agreement reached through a plea bargain enables the courts to handle cases more efficiently while also providing defendants with an opportunity to mitigate the consequences of their actions.

This method contrasts significantly with other options, which involve a comprehensive trial or outright dismissal of charges without negotiation, neither of which reflects the compromise nature of plea bargaining.