Which of the following best explains how plea bargaining helps courts manage their caseloads in the context of stress on the legal system?

• A. Plea bargaining increases the number of trials by encouraging more defendants to contest their charges.
• B. Plea bargaining allows defendants to avoid trial by agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge, which reduces the number of cases that go to full trial.
• C. Plea bargaining is only used in civil cases and does not affect criminal court caseloads.
• D. Plea bargaining eliminates the need for judges and prosecutors in the legal process.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of plea bargaining in the legal system. Plea bargaining is an agreement where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or receives a lighter sentence in exchange for avoiding a full trial.
2. Step 2: Recognize the impact of plea bargaining on court caseloads. By resolving cases through plea deals, fewer cases proceed to full trials, which are time-consuming and resource-intensive.
3. Step 3: Analyze how reducing the number of trials helps manage stress on the legal system. Fewer trials mean less demand on judges, prosecutors, court staff, and courtroom availability, allowing the system to handle cases more efficiently.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the incorrect options by considering their implications. For example, increasing trials would add stress rather than reduce it, and plea bargaining is primarily used in criminal cases, not civil cases.
5. Step 5: Conclude that plea bargaining helps courts manage caseloads by reducing the number of full trials, thereby alleviating pressure on the legal system and speeding up case resolution.