Instead of adopting the term "plea bargain" from Anglo-Saxon legal systems, Hungarian legislation has introduced a similar concept under the name "agreement on the admission of guilt" (commonly referred to as "agreement").

This legal instrument, well known from American movies, aims to make the justice system faster and more cost-effective while also offering advantages for the accused.

Compared to plea bargaining the Hungarian agreement system is more rigid and allows less room for negotiation. In particular, the facts of the case (what happened) and their legal classification (which criminal offense applies) cannot be subject to negotiation.

The agreement can be initiated by the prosecution, the accused, or the defense attorney. The participation of defense counsel is mandatory during the proceedings aimed at concluding the agreement.

What Does the Agreement Include?

• The facts of the case and their legal classification;
• A confession from the accused (often accompanied by a detailed factual statement);
• The proposed penalty or legal measure.

To protect the accused, a sealed record is created during the agreement process. Statements contained in this record can only be used as evidence if the agreement is successfully concluded. Once finalized, the prosecution submits the indictment under the agreed terms and requests its approval by the court.

The court will approve the agreement if:

• It complies with procedural and substantive legal requirements;
• The accused fully understands its legal consequences;
• It is based on a voluntary confession supported by case files.