In the United States, criminal proceedings, court trials and of housing inmates incurs millions, if not billions of dollars in costs annually. In an effort to reduce court dockets and save tax dollars, prosecutors and judges are driven to accept plea bargains, which in turn open up crowded court calendars and save taxpayers money.

Busy judges simply do not have the time to try every single case that's under their jurisdiction. Prosecutors are in the same boat, thus plea bargaining is a favorable alternative to trying every case that enters the DA's office.

What about America's jails and prisons?

The United States has a massive inmate population, and it comes at a price. Due to the fact that our jails and prisons are already so full, judges are motivated to release inmates before they complete their sentences to allow more room for incoming offenders.

Often, judges will reason that the sooner nonviolent offenders are processed out of jail with plea bargains, the fewer issues there will be with overcrowding. This method also reduces the likelihood that hardened criminals will be let out before they have a chance to carry out their full sentence.

Prosecutors' Calendar Concerns

Like the judges, prosecutors are concerned about their clogged calendars. Prosecutors are under pressure from judges to move their cases along, so to appease impatient judges, prosecutors are eager to keep the machine moving.

Additionally, prosecutors are concerned with maintaining balance and keeping their own calendars under control. A clogged calendar means the prosecutor and their limited staff are stretched too thin, thus plea bargains lighten the load.

There are many benefits of a plea bargain, and it's often to the advantage to the defense and the prosecution to reach a deal. Since plea bargains are much faster and less labor intensive than trials, they are less burdensome on the DA's resources.

To learn more about plea bargains, contact a criminal defense attorney for their input on the matter.