In Defense of Plea Bargaining

Abstract:     
Plea bargaining, like all government activities, is liable to abuse. Yet the mere fact that a process can be abused does not necessarily make that process unconstitutional, or immoral. Plea bargaining is rife with unfair prosecutorial tactics, and it needs reform. But the process itself is not unconstitutional, nor does it violate a defendant's rights.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 4

Keywords: Plea bargaining, fifth amendment, sixth amendment, constitutional law, plea bargain, criminal law, right to trial

JEL Classification: K14, K10

Accepted Paper Series