What is the role of a plea bargain in a criminal trial?

In California, a plea bargain is a negotiation between a criminal defendant and the prosecution (the prosecuting attorney) that occurs prior to trial. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser crime than the one they were originally charged with, often with a lesser sentence than if they were found guilty in a trial. The prosecution benefits from a plea bargain because it can save time and resources (such as manpower and money) that would otherwise be spent on preparing for a trial and potentially lessens the likelihood of a not guilty verdict. The defendant benefits from a plea bargain because they often do not have to go through a lengthy trial and can get a more lenient sentence. In some cases, a plea bargain can also include a drug rehabilitation program or other assistance in exchange for pleading guilty. This may be used to benefit the defendant by providing them with the tools and resources they need to successfully address their drug addiction or other underlying issues that contributed to the crime in the first place. Ultimately, plea bargains are essential in drug crime law in California because they provide an opportunity to resolve criminal cases without a lengthy trial and can be beneficial to both sides. A plea bargain can often be a win-win solution for both the defendant and the prosecution by avoiding a lengthy trial, providing the defendant with assistance and a more lenient sentence, and avoiding the strain of a trial on the prosecution.

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What is the role of a plea bargain in a criminal trial?

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