plea bargaining

(noun) (criminal law) a negotiation in which the defendant agrees to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutor agrees to drop a more serious charge. Synonyms: plea bargain, plea bargaining. Examples: "His admission was part of a plea bargain with the prosecutor." "Plea bargaining helps to stop the courts becoming congested."

(verb) agree to plead guilty in return for a lesser charge. Synonyms: plea-bargain. Example: "If he plea-bargains, he will be sent to a medium-security prison for 8 years."