DPAs - Disadvantages A DPA can be extremely demanding as the court can impose enforceable undertakings, which would not be the case on conviction following trial. Companies who accept a DPA may therefore be subject to more scrutiny of their corporate governance than those who do not cooperate.
Under a deferred prosecution agreement, the Crown prosecutor can agree to defer bringing a prosecution for the alleged offences if the organization takes steps to improve its conduct, makes restitution, and implements internal controls to avoid a repetition of the conduct.
Under a plea bargain or a sentence of probation, a defendant is convicted of a crime. Compliance with the terms of the plea bargain or terms of probation is overseen by the court. A DPA, by contrast, is largely imposed and monitored outside the judicial system.
The agreement allows a prosecution to be suspended for a defined period, provided the organisation meets certain specified conditions. DPAs can be used for fraud, bribery and other economic crime. They apply to organisations, never individuals.
Deferred entry / gap years King's is happy to consider you if you wish to take a year out to gain some specific experience, earn funds in preparation for your studies or generally broaden your interests. However, deferrals may not be granted on competitive health courses such as medicine or dentistry.
Eight of 12 existing DPAs in the UK relate to the corporate bribery offence, demonstrating their popularity among regulators seeking more efficient investigation, remediation and case closure.