Signing a letter of understanding is not a reason to exempt from criminal responsibility, but it can be used as a mitigating circumstance. For cases that have reached a settlement agreement, the public security organ may make suggestions to the people's procuratorate for leniency. The people's procuratorate may put forward suggestions for lenient punishment to the people's court; If the circumstances of the crime are minor and there is no need to be sentenced to punishment, a decision not to prosecute may be made.
Relevant provisions on whether there is a letter of understanding or possible imprisonment:
1. If the criminal suspect and the victim reach a compensation agreement and the victim understands, the judicial organ may give a lighter, mitigated or exempted criminal punishment;
2, so after getting the letter of understanding, you still need to go to jail, and it may happen;
3. Obtaining a letter of understanding is only a condition that can be lightened or mitigated, but it cannot be exempted from criminal punishment;
4. The letter of understanding is a plot for the presiding judge to lighten or mitigate the punishment of the defendant at his discretion, not a statutory plot;
5. If the circumstances of the crime are minor, the defendant may be exempted from criminal punishment. According to the relevant laws and regulations, if the actor is at fault and cannot prove that he is innocent, he shall bear tort liability.
To sum up, according to the law, how much compensation is needed to win the understanding of the victim is generally determined through consultation between the two parties or mediation by the judicial organs. If a criminal suspect or defendant sincerely repents, gains the understanding of the victim through compensation for losses or apology, and the victim voluntarily reconciles, the two parties may reconcile.
Legal basis:
Article 290 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC)
For cases that have reached a settlement agreement, the public security organ may make suggestions to the people's procuratorate for leniency. The people's procuratorate may put forward suggestions for lenient punishment to the people's court; If the circumstances of the crime are minor and there is no need to be sentenced to punishment, a decision not to prosecute may be made. The people's court may punish the defendant lightly according to law.