plea-bargaining
Courtroom deal-making
Plea-bargaining is the process by which a defendant in a criminal case negotiates with prosecutors to plead guilty to a lesser charge or receive a lighter sentence in exchange for avoiding trial.
This practice resolves the vast majority of criminal cases in the American justice system, saving courts time and resources while giving defendants more predictable outcomes.
Critics argue it can pressure innocent people to plead guilty rather than risk harsher sentences at trial.
Trial venue or sports surface
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
charges · indictment · arraignment · hearing · docket · adjudication · conviction · sentencing
Denial of fair treatment
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
- overchargingDemanding excessive payment
power imbalance · transparency · accountability · critics · abolition · pressure tactics · disparities · racial bias
Charged with wrongdoing
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- pressureForce upon contact
- riskPossibility of harm
uncertainty · counsel · informed consent · voluntariness · Miranda · due process · innocence · confession
Agreement or distribution
- agreementShared position between parties
- concessionYielding a point
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- offerProposal to provide
counteroffer · terms · conditions · leverage · reduction · exchange · settlement · arrangement
Professional's assigned matters
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
- overcrowdingCapacity exceeded dangerously
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
- expediencePractical self-interest
cost-saving · time-saving · prison overcrowding · streamlining · administrative · processing · throughput · overburdened
court
Trial venue or sports surface
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
attorney · charges · indictment · arraignment · hearing · docket · adjudication · conviction · sentencing · criminal procedure
injustice
Denial of fair treatment
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
overcharging · power imbalance · transparency · accountability · critics · abolition · pressure tactics · disparities · racial bias · mandatory minimums
accused
Charged with wrongdoing
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- pressureForce upon contact
risk · uncertainty · counsel · informed consent · voluntariness · Miranda · due process · innocence · confession · admission
deal
Agreement or distribution
- agreementShared position between parties
- concessionYielding a point
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
offer · counteroffer · terms · conditions · leverage · reduction · exchange · settlement · arrangement · quid pro quo
caseload
Professional's assigned matters
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
- overcrowdingCapacity exceeded dangerously
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
expedience · cost-saving · time-saving · prison overcrowding · streamlining · administrative · processing · throughput · overburdened
plea-bargainingtrial
Judicial examination of claims
jury trial · bench trial · litigation · trial by jury · criminal trial
plea, bargain, bargaining, pleas, plead, pleading, pleadings, pleaded, pleads