NCJ Number
86400
Date Published
1982
Length
52 pages
Annotation
Five propositions regarding plea bargaining were tested by means of an analysis of data from the District of Columbia court during 1974.
Abstract
The propositions, derived from a review of the literature, were that (1) the higher the case load, the larger the number of cases convicted through pleas; (2) more serious cases would tend to go through full trials and less serious cases through plea bargaining; (3) less serious cases would more readily plead guilty than the more serious cases; (4) plea bargaining would be more likely in cases with strong evidence for a given charge; and (5) weaker evidence on a case would be associated with a greater likelihood of plea bargaining. Almost 4,000 cases were studied, with a relatively even gender distribution to permit the examination of gender differences. Plea bargaining was found to be more a defense strategy than a prosecutorial one. Plea bargaining was used more by males than by females. Cases charged with less serious offenses were more likely to plead guilty. A lack of evidence tended to reinforce pleas of guilt, but only for females. Thus, females were less able to bargain and more willing to plead guilty. Data tables, figures, a list of 39 references, and an appendix presenting a classification of offenses are provided.