Deferred Prosecution Agreements

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is a legal arrangement where a prosecutor agrees to delay criminal charges against a company or individual, usually in exchange for the completion of specific conditions. These conditions may include paying fines, improving compliance programs, or cooperating with investigations. If the agreed-upon terms are met within a certain time frame, the charges are usually dismissed, avoiding a formal trial. DPAs allow authorities to address misconduct effectively while giving organizations a chance to correct their behavior without the burden of a criminal conviction.