9.8: Plea Bargaining
- Page ID
- 48418
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Plea Bargaining
A key element of pretrial justice is the concept of plea-bargaining. A plea bargain is an arrangement to exchange a plea of guilty for either prosecutorial or judicial discretions. This arrangement can take place during the pretrial steps or occasionally during the trial stages. It is estimated that 90% of all convictions occur because of plea-bargaining.
Concessions of Plea-Bargaining
Some of the concessions that are offered in exchange for a plea of guilty can include a reduction in terms of the initial degree of the charges. Whether the jurisdiction uses a category such as1, 2, 3 or A, B, C to denote the severity of the charges the option to lessen the severity of the charges can serve as an inducement to plead guilty. The number of charges against an individual might also be reduced. So if an individual was being charged for three burglaries the prosecution might offer to charge them with only one in exchange for a guilty plea. The prosecution might also recommend to the judge that the individual receive a lighter sentence. While the prosecution is in charge of determining what the charges will be at the number of charges they are not in a position to guarantee what sentence a judge will hand down. Less typically, the prosecution may also offer to rename the charges so that a drug possession offense might be changed to disorderly conduct a student will not lose their financial aid. Occasionally, the prosecution may agree to move the case to be heard in front of a judge that is known to be more lenient.
Pro and Cons
In deciding how you feel about the concept of plea-bargaining and if it helps us attain justice and may be helpful to look at some of the pros and cons. On the pro side being able to obtain a guilty plea without having to go through a full trial greatly reduces costs and improves the efficiency of courtroom procedures. By allowing prosecutors to decide to offer a plea bargain on left serious cases this can free up some of their time to focus on more serious cases that they wish to push to a full trial. Additionally, by working with the defendant in reducing their charges and obtaining the guilty plea the defendant can avoid pretrial detention and the court can avoid delays.
In terms of the cons plea-bargaining encourages defendant to waive their constitutional rights to a trial. Offering this procedure to some people but not all may result in lesser sentences for those that are offered plea bargains and result in sentencing disparity compared to those that are not offered a plea bargain or who turn down the plea bargain because they wish to have a trial. This form of intense negotiation may also coerce many innocent people to plead guilty in order to avoid the more severe sanctions they could face if they insist on a trial and lose.