Defense attorneys engage in plea bargaining to get leniency for their clients Imagine you are defendant and fully stand behind your case that you are not guilty. Your attorney is under heavy pressure though to push for plea bargaining because of the heavy caseload the court has.
Plea bargains also allow prosecutors to offer good deals to a defendant who could help them in another case. For instance, they can offer a deal to someone who, though guilty, is prepared to give testimony about a codefendant or help resolve some other unsolved case.
Criminal trials can take a substantial amount of time; many defendants are given the opportunity to negotiate a plea bargain, simply because prosecutors/judges feel pressured to move criminal cases through the system as quickly as possible, due to …
Prosecutors engage in plea bargaining because they want to gain convictions, defense attorneys seek leniency for their clients, and judges feel pressures to move cases. Defendants and their lawyers will opt for a trial if they think the case factually presents a reasonable doubt or if the prison sentence will be high.
to as the "innocence problem" in plea bargaining-the question of whether and why innocent defendants might plead guilty-and do so by discussing the ways in which prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges might contribute to the problem rather than alleviate it. Part II will discuss the prosecution's role in plea bargaining. This
Incentives for the Defendant to Accept a Plea BargainSaving money. ... Getting out of jail. ... Resolving the matter quickly. ... Having fewer or less-serious offenses on one's record. ... Having a less socially stigmatizing offense on one's record. ... Avoiding hassles. ... Avoiding publicity. ... Keeping others out of the case.
For defendants, the most significant benefit to plea bargaining is to take away the uncertainty of a criminal trial and avoid the maximum sentence that a conviction at trial could mean. Accepting a plea bargain could also save you a lot of money on attorney's fees if there is a strong likelihood of a conviction anyway.May 17, 2021
Avoiding unwanted publicity. Criminal trials are often in the headlines; by accepting a plea bargain, defendants often avoid dragging their own reputation and their families through what can be an embarrassing situation. Essentially, it is easier to stay out of the public eye when a defendant can avoid going to trial.
A lesser charge, lighter sentence, and getting everything over with quickly are some of the benefits of negotiating a plea. For most defendants, the principal benefit to plea bargaining is receiving a lighter sentence for a less severe charge than might result from a conviction at trial.
Ensures the defendant understands the charges and punishment. Ensures the defendant's right to due process.
Reasons for Prosecutors to Accept a Plea Bargain Like judges, prosecutors face overburdened schedules and limitations on their resources. Plea bargains are efficient and inexpensive, and they guarantee a favorable result instead of the uncertainty of going to trial.Oct 18, 2021
If the defendant refuses to enter a plea—or to even speak—then the judge will typically enter a not guilty plea on his or her behalf. (The judge may first try to determine why the defendant won't plead and convince him or her to do so.)
Terms in this set (38) By accepting a plea bargain, offered by the prosecutor, a defendant is pleading guilty, thereby forfeiting his right to a trial. These plea deals result in a lesser sentence than if the defendant was convicted at trial.