criminal-law
Consequences of making changes to plea after all parties have signed the agreement
<p>Can a prosecutor make changes to a plea deal once all parties have signed?  </p>

<p>For example: If someone was to plea (deal) to and was convicted of manslaughter. However then the prosecutor changed the paper work to homicide, but did not inform the defendant or the courts. Later they conceded that they made the changes without telling anyone.  </p>

<p>Is this lawful, and can your sentence be vacated if this were to happen?</p>

<p>A prosecutor cannot make a change to a plea agreement after it is signed.  That's why it has to be signed.  If there is an error in it then it needs to be re-written and re-signed.</p>

<p>No, your friend cannot get their conviction vacated over this.  They can have it reversed and put back into pre-trial for a new determination (plea, trial, etc.).  They need to speak to an attorney to understand if this is worthwhile or not. There really are very very few instances where a mistake in the legal system means you can get away with a crime.</p>
