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Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Definition

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement, or DPA, is a voluntary agreement between a prosecutor and a corporation, or sometimes an individual, where the prosecutor agrees to defer or drop charges if the defendant meets certain conditions. These conditions typically include paying fines, implementing compliance reforms, and cooperating with ongoing investigations. DPAs are often used in cases of corporate misconduct to avoid lengthy trials and severe collateral consequences. This legal instrument provides an alternative to criminal conviction.