The majority of all convictions result from some type of plea bargain prior to trial. Negotiations and deals can be struck at any time prior to the conclusion of the trial. A plea bargain involves an agreement between the prosecution and defense to reduce the charges, drop some or all of the charges, or even plead guilty to a charge in exchange for a specific sentence.
Plea bargaining happens for numerous reasons. It allows the Court and everyone involved to avoid a lengthy trial by moving the case through the system quickly and clearing crowded court calendars. It affords the Defendant the opportunity to obtain a lighter sentence in exchange for a different charge. Since trial outcomes can be unpredictable even in most straight forward cases, a plea bargain guarantees some type of conviction for the prosecution while affording the Defendant some type of satisfactory outcome of the case, i.e., reduced charges, a lighter sentence, or both. Particularly in drug cases or in cases involving other Defendants (Co-Defendant), a plea bargain may be used to secure testimony against another Defendant.
