Cop a Plea

Cop a Plea is slang for a plea bargain. A defendant agrees to plea “guilty” or “no contest” to certain charges or reduced charges in exchange for a lighter sentence offered by the prosecutor or in some cases, the judge. Some defendants will choose to cop a plea rather than risk going to trial and face a much stiffer sentence. A decision to cop a plea is a good option for certain defendants especially those that do not have any real defense to the charges.