Compromise Petitions in Criminal Cases: What Can Be Settled and What Cannot
In criminal cases, many people believe that once both parties agree to a settlement, the case will automatically end. This belief is one of the most dangerous misunderstandings in criminal law. Courts do not permit compromise in every criminal offence, even if the complainant and the accused have fully settled their dispute outside court. Every year, criminal courts see petitions filed with the assumption that mutual compromise alone is sufficient to close a case. In reality, the law draws a clear line between offences that are legally compoundable and offences that cannot be settled , regardless of consent. This article explains how compromise petitions work, what offences can legally be settled, when courts reject compromise, and how judges actually examine such requests. What Is a Compromise Petition A compromise petition is a request made to the court stating that the complainant and the accused have resolved their dispute amicably and no longer wish to continue the criminal p...