The plea bargaining process has become one of the best ways today that the courts use to help clear up the caseloads as well as lower the costs. When a case goes to a jury trial it can cost the courts money due to the witnesses and jurors that need to be called in for the trials. When a case gets settled through the plea bargaining process it will bypass the jury trial stage eliminating that extra cost to the courts. Plea bargaining can be in the best interest for the defendant, save the court money, and help lighten the caseloads in the courts.
The American court system has been getting more and more weighed down with cases due to the large amounts of crimes that are taking place. “It was not until the latter half …show more content…
“Over ninety percent of all criminal cases are resolved with a guilty plea” (Bender, 2011). This truly helps the costs for the courts by holding plea bargaining sessions for the prosecutors and defense attorneys so that they may reach an agreement without a lengthy and costly trial. “Guilty pleas are useful to the criminal justice system because they allow courts and parties to avoid the costs and risks associated with jury trials” (Bender, 2011). With the overcrowded courts and the demanding costs to hold trials, a plea bargaining is a better way for all parties involved including the …show more content…
“The system does not do enough to help defense attorneys bring to light, in an organized fashion, favorable facts to their clients during the plea bargaining stage” (McConkie, 2015). Most plea bargaining’s are held off the court record and without the judges or defendants being present. Once the attorney and prosecutor come to an agreement the attorney will take the offer to their client for approval. If the client approves it goes before the judge to settle and finish the case at which time the defendant would be sentenced by the recommendations of the plea bargaining. The judges do not tend to go against these pleas because the judge does not have enough facts of the case before him to overrule on what sentencing should be. “Plea bargaining refers generally to defendants giving up their trial-related constitutional rights and pleading guilty in exchange for prosecutorial concessions, like lighter sentences and dismissals of charges” (McConkie, 2015). A defendant may have several charges that they could be found guilty on if the case went to trial, whereas by accepting a plea bargain, the defendant may only be charged with one criminal act and their sentence could be a lighter