Plea bargaining is a somewhat unique practice in the United States. Although it is not an official criminal procedure, plea bargaining has a long history in the United States. If a defendant agrees to go for a guilty plea during plea bargaining, the defendant stands before a court judge to receive a sentence (sentences) without a trial.

A criminal defendant has a right to a trial, but defendants in 95% of all criminal cases in the United States plead guilty and receive a sentence (s) without a trial.

Do some internet research, and respond to the following prompts.

1. How does plea bargaining work in the United States?
2. Plea bargaining is usually done indoors between a defense attorney and a prosecutor. Sometimes, a court judge is also involved in the plea bargaining process. Do you see problems with plea bargaining because many defendants receive a sentence (s) even without a trial? Is it justice to punish a defendant without opening a trial for him or her?

3.Why do you think a defendant decides to plead guilty, waives the right to a trial, and just receives a sentence (s)?

4.What may be the benefits of plea bargaining in the American Criminal Justice System?