As a professional, it is important to identify the correct statement about deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs). DPAs are agreements between the government and a company or individual under investigation, whereby the government agrees to defer prosecution for a set period of time. During this time, the company or individual must meet certain conditions, such as paying fines or implementing compliance measures.

The correct statement about DPAs is that they are a common tool used by government agencies to resolve cases without going to trial. DPAs offer a number of benefits to both the government and the company or individual under investigation. For the government, DPAs allow for the resolution of cases more quickly and with less resources than going to trial. For the company or individual under investigation, DPAs offer the opportunity to avoid the negative publicity and reputation damage that can come with a trial.

One common misconception about DPAs is that they are a “get out of jail free” card. This is not the case. While DPAs do defer prosecution for a set period of time, the company or individual under investigation must still meet specific conditions. Failure to meet these conditions can result in the DPA being revoked and prosecution moving forward.

Another common misconception about DPAs is that they are only used in cases involving white-collar crime. While DPAs are frequently used in cases involving fraud, antitrust violations, and other white-collar crimes, they can also be used in cases involving other types of criminal activity.

In conclusion, DPAs are a common tool used by government agencies to resolve cases without going to trial. They offer benefits to both the government and the company or individual under investigation, and are not a “get out of jail free” card. As a professional, it is important to understand the correct statement about DPAs in order to accurately communicate this information to readers.