Which statement about plea bargaining is true?

Which statement about plea bargaining is true?

• A. It always guarantees a sentence reduction
• B. It is illegal in most jurisdictions
• C. It commonly involves pleading guilty to a lesser charge or receiving a lighter sentence to avoid trial
• D. It can only occur after a conviction

Answer: (C)

Plea bargaining is a negotiation between the prosecutor and the defense to resolve a criminal case without going to trial. The statement that best reflects this is that defendants commonly plead guilty to a lesser charge or receive a lighter sentence to avoid trial. This describes the typical trade-off: giving up the right to a trial in exchange for a more favorable outcome, such as reduced charges or a lighter penalty, with the court generally needing to approve the agreement. It’s not a guarantee of a sentence reduction, and outcomes vary. It’s legal in many jurisdictions and usually happens before a trial and conviction, not after a conviction.

Plea bargaining is a negotiation between the prosecutor and the defense to resolve a criminal case without going to trial. The statement that best reflects this is that defendants commonly plead guilty to a lesser charge or receive a lighter sentence to avoid trial. This describes the typical trade-off: giving up the right to a trial in exchange for a more favorable outcome, such as reduced charges or a lighter penalty, with the court generally needing to approve the agreement. It’s not a guarantee of a sentence reduction, and outcomes vary. It’s legal in many jurisdictions and usually happens before a trial and conviction, not after a conviction.