Plea-bargaining is a process in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence. There are a number of synonyms for the term plea-bargained. One synonym is plea-deal, which is often used interchangeably with plea-bargain. Another is plea-negotiation, which emphasizes the bargaining aspect of the process. Other synonyms include plea-agreement, plea-arrangement, and plea-protocol. Regardless of the specific terminology, plea-bargaining is a common practice in the criminal justice system, allowing defendants to avoid more severe penalties and helping to reduce the number of cases that go to trial.