How does plea bargaining work in Washington?

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1. Constitutional Framework   Sixth Amendment effective-counsel protections apply throughout plea negotiations (Lafler v. Cooper; Missouri v. Frye), and the plea must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary (Boykin v. Alabama; State v. Ross).    2. Types of Pleas   Washington recognizes guilty pleas, Alford pleas (called 'Newton pleas' after In re Personal Restraint of Montoya/Newton), and 'in re Barr' pleas. Nolo contendere is not used in adult criminal court.    3. Charge vs Sentence Bargaining   Both occur. Sentence bargaining is constrained by the Sentencing Reform Act and standard ranges; prosecutors can recommend exceptional sentences but the court is not bound. Charge bargaining is regulated by RCW 9.94A.421.    4. Judicial Role   Washington judges generally do not participate in plea negotiations; CrR 4.2(c) frames the court's role as approving or rejecting the parties' agreement.    5. Plea Colloquy   CrR 4.2(g) requires use of the standard Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty, which lists rights waived (jury, confrontation, self-incrimination), the elements, maximum penalty, standard range, and collateral consequences including immigration (Padilla v. Kentucky; RCW 10.40.200).    6. Withdrawal of Plea   CrR 4.2(f): the court 'shall allow' withdrawal whenever necessary to correct a manifest injustice (e.g., involuntary plea, breached agreement, ineffective assistance). After judgment, relief is by personal restraint petition.    7. Conditional Pleas   Conditional pleas exist by case law (State v. Lewis), allowing appeal of a denied suppression motion when the State and court consent.    8. Sentence Recommendation vs Bargain   The prosecutor's sentence recommendation does not bind the court; defendant ordinarily cannot withdraw a plea simply because the court imposes a different lawful sentence within the agreed framework, unless the recommendation was a material term breached by the State (State v. Sledge).    9. Plea Statistics   About 95% of Washington felony convictions are by plea.  This is legal information, not legal advice.