In court, a plea bargain is a legal agreement in which a defendant has the choice to plead guilty or not guilty to a criminal charge. Defendants can plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence, lighter charge, or the dropping of some charges entierely from the prosecutor.
If the defendant pleads guilty, they will go to sentencing. If the defendant pleads not guilty, they will go to trial.
This process is used in many countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Russia, and Pakistan.