What is the purpose of a plea bargain?

The primary purpose of a plea bargain is to avoid a trial. This legal arrangement is negotiated between the prosecution and the defense, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or to receive a lighter sentence in exchange for avoiding the complexities, costs, and uncertainties associated with a trial. This benefits both the court system, which can alleviate congestion, and the defendants, who may receive more favorable terms than they would if they were found guilty at trial.

Plea bargains also allow the prosecution to secure a conviction with less effort and time, ensuring that they achieve some level of justice without the need for the courtroom process to unfold fully. This mechanism plays a significant role in the efficiency of the judicial system, allowing for quicker resolutions of cases.