Criminology Term: Stipulation
In criminology, a stipulation is a legal agreement between the prosecution and defense in a criminal case.
The stipulation sets out the facts of the case that both parties agree upon, which can help to streamline the trial process and avoid the need for time-consuming evidentiary hearings.
Stipulations may cover a wide range of issues, including the identity of the defendant, the location of the crime, and the time and date of the offense.
They may also include agreements about the admissibility of certain evidence or the testimony of specific witnesses.
Stipulations are typically entered into before trial, although they may also be negotiated during the trial process. Once a stipulation has been agreed upon by both parties, it becomes part of the official court record and may be used as evidence during the trial.
Stipulations can be a useful tool in criminal cases because they can help to simplify the trial process and reduce the amount of time and resources required to litigate a case.
However, both parties must be willing to negotiate and compromise in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
