How do plea bargains work in criminal cases?

A plea bargain is an agreement between the prosecutor and defendant in a criminal case. In a plea bargain, the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest to a charge or charges in exchange for a reduction in charges or a more lenient sentence. This agreement allows the prosecutor to avoid a trial and secure a conviction while the defendant avoids the risk of a harsher sentence if convicted at trial.

Plea bargains are common in criminal cases because they save time and resources for both the prosecution and the court system. However, it is important to note that plea bargains can have negative consequences as well, such as contributing to wrongful convictions and incentivizing defendants to accept a plea deal even if they are innocent.