Although United States Attorneys have wide discretion in negotiating guilty pleas in criminal cases, this power should be exercised only after appropriate consultation with the federal investigative agency involved. See the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, P.L. 97-291, § 6, 96 Stat. 1256. In addition, the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance provides that United States Attorneys should make reasonable efforts to notify identified victims of, and consider victims' views about, any proposed or contemplated plea negotiations. See the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, P.L. 97-291, § 6, 96 Stat. 1256.

[updated November 2022] [cited in JM 9-16.040]