A plea bargain is an agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or to only one or some of the charges in exchange for more lenient sentencing or a reduced penalty. In many cases, a plea bargain results in the defendant receiving a reduced sentence or a dismissal of other charges. This type of agreement can be beneficial for both the defendant and the court system; it saves the court time and money, and offers the defendant a chance to avoid a harsher penalty.