What is deferred adjudication?

Deferred adjudication is a type of plea deal in which a defendant pleads guilty or no contest to criminal charges, but the court defers entering a conviction and instead places the defendant on probation. If the defendant successfully completes the probation period and meets all court requirements, the charges may be dismissed and no conviction will appear on their record. However, if the defendant violates probation, the court can impose a conviction and sentence. Deferred adjudication is often used to give first-time offenders a second chance, but it is not available for all types of offenses.