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

A plea bargain is an agreement between the defendant and prosecutor in a criminal case. In Washington, the role of a plea bargain in a criminal trial is to allow the defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for the prosecutor dropping the more serious charges and often, receiving a lighter sentence. The plea bargain can also include agreements between the defendant and judge regarding the sentence. Through a plea bargain, the defendant avoids the risk of a jury convicting them on all or more serious charges. In addition, the plea bargain expedites the court process by avoiding a trial, which speeds up the legal process and limits the amount of resources used by the court. By taking a plea bargain, the defendant agrees to accept a lesser sentence in exchange for confessing to their guilt. In drug crimes, the plea bargain could result in a lesser sentence such as probation or drug treatment instead of prison time. In summary, a plea bargain in Washington is an agreement between the defendant and prosecutor in a criminal case in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for the prosecutor dropping the more serious charges and often, receiving a lighter sentence. A plea bargain can also include agreements between the defendant and judge regarding the sentence and reduces the risk of a jury convicting them on all or more serious charges.

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