a.
In the case presented, plea-bargaining agreement is important to the justice system because it de-clogs the cases courts need to address. It helps the court focus their limited resources in more important cases. Siegel, Schmalleger& Worrall (2011) corresponds to a legal term that is considered as a comprise, that is vital for the judicial function. It is an agreement between the prosecutor and defendant parties, where the defendant pleads guilty to several aspects of the charges. The defendant will plead guilty to a less serious charge or charges and, as a result, the other aspects of the charges will be dismissed (Siegel, Schmalleger& Worrall, 2011).
It allows guilty parties to admit to their crimes that speed up the justice process, for instance, in the case of Rudolf Santobello, where he entered to an agreement that he will plead guilty one count of a lesser included offense (Santobello v. 1971). According to the court ruling in regards to Santobello’s case, plea bargaining is significant in the administration of justice both on the level of the state and federal. Through the use of plea bargaining, it aids in avoiding lengthy criminal trials.
b.
Without the plea bargaining agreement, the justice system in America will be slower because cases will continue to pile in courts. The main benefit of plea bargaining is that it free ups the court and the prosecutors in order to handle more serious cases. Without the bargaining, prosecutors and courts would be congested slowing down the justice system in America (The Pros and Cons of Plea Bargaining). According to Brown (2012) in reality, the defendant arrives at different sentences depending on whether they plead guilty or go into trial. In a citizen’s standpoint, plea bargaining also saves people’s taxes from cases that takestoo long to resolve, the taxes can go to more significant beneficiaries. Without plea bargaining, justice may take time to be achieved, and courts will result in court congestion with cases of different magnitudes. Both the defense and prosecution attorneys cannot focus on more serious cases.
c.
Oliver (n.d) mentioned that courts will still utilize plea bargaining because it decongests them especially on heavy calendars. However, it is also important to address the negative implications of plea bargaining. For instance, is it a mere escape route for guilty offenders to receive a less harsh conviction? It is important to note that not all cases are allowed to enter a bargaining agreement, the justice system may issue a more detailed regulation about the rules concerning plea bargaining.
I believe that the plea bargaining still needs improvement in terms of it serving justice to the victim and his or her family. But I agree that the plea bargaining is beneficial for the justice system because it saves time and money both on the part of the individual and the state. Many criminal cases can be resolved in less time compared to when it will enter the full trial procedure. It is important to note that courts have limited resources, therefore; plea bargaining is significant in terms of utilizing the courts’ resources.
Reference:
Brown D (2012) Brown: Supreme Court Recognizes Key Role of Plea Bargaining in Criminal Justice System
Oliver W (n.d) The Present and Future Regulation of Plea Bargaining: A Look at Missouri v.Frye and Lafler v. Cooper
Siegel , L., Schmalleger, F., & Worrall, J. (2011). Courts and Criminal Justice in America. New York: Pearson Education.
