Parole Release of a prisoner from imprisonment, but not from legal custody. The promise of an accused person to the court that he or she will return to court when ordered to do so. An agreement between the State and defendant wherein the defendant agrees to plead guilty under certain terms and conditions. Since both the State and the defendant risk losing should the case go to trial, plea agreements are a means of arriving at a reasonable disposition without the necessity of going to trial. In Missouri, the victim has the right to be made aware of the plea agreement and to comment on the offer.
All plea agreements are subject to the judge's approval.
Plea of Guilty Admission of guilt in open court. Following conviction and direct appellate review, many states provide for procedures for postconviction review. Typically the grounds for relief under these proceedings are both limited and different from those on appeal from a conviction. For more information, see the Criminal Prosecution Procedure page. The hearing for a person charged with a felony before an associate circuit judge, wherein the State must establish that there is probable cause to believe that the accused committed the specific crime charged, and which may require witness testimony.