Understanding Plea Bargaining: How Most Criminal Cases are Settled
A plea bargain is an agreement between the defense and the prosecutor in which a defendant pleads guilty or no contest to criminal charges. In exchange, the prosecutor drops some charges, reduces a charge or recommends that the judge enter a specific sentence that is acceptable to the defense. Plea Bargains: Why and When They're Made
As criminal courts become ever more crowded, prosecutors and judges feel increased pressure to move cases quickly through the system. Defendants' Incentives for Accepting Plea Bargains
A discussion of the most common reasons why a defendant might want to enter into a plea bargain. Prosecutors' and Judges' Incentives for Accepting Plea Bargains
Crowded calendars and overburdened prisons provide powerful incentives to many judges and prosecutors.
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