A negotiation process in criminal cases where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or receive a reduced sentence in exchange for avoiding trial. This practice resolves the majority of criminal cases in many modern legal systems.
From 'plea' (from Old French 'plaid,' meaning legal proceeding) and 'bargaining' (from Old French 'bargaigner,' to haggle). The practice emerged informally in 19th-century American courts as case loads increased and became systematized in the 20th century.
Plea bargaining handles about 95% of criminal cases in the United States, making it more important than trials in determining justice outcomes. Critics argue it pressures innocent people to plead guilty, while supporters say it prevents court system collapse—either way, it's become the real backbone of American criminal justice.
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