Midterm Essay:

Plea Bargaining or “I did not commit that crime but I will agree to this one for 3–5 years or probation”

The criminal court operates under two models: The crime control model (that relies heavily on plea bargaining and guilty pleas) and the due process model (that provides a full trial process). A comparison of these models was exemplified in a classic 1968 article by Herbert Packer: Two Models of the Criminal Process.

The issue of plea bargaining has become a very controversial issue within the court system. Overburdened courts and endless dockets are causing the system to collapse and as a result, many prosecutors have turned to plea bargains to reduce the strain. The fast track between probation and reduced sentences has not been without controversy. Although plea bargaining is often criticized, more than 90% of criminal convictions come from negotiated pleas. Thus, less than 10% of criminal cases go to trial.

In a 4–5-page paper (1,000 to 1,250 words), identify the associated issues with plea bargaining. Does it undermine the system of law? If so, how? What are the incentives behind plea bargaining for judges, prosecutors, and defendants? Explain your answers and cite examples to support your position.

Additional Reference Information

Below are two Library articles that addresses plea bargaining.

Bowers, J. (2007). Grassroots plea bargaining. Marquette Law Review, 91(1), 85–121. 

Fisher, T. (2008). The boundaries of plea bargaining: Negotiating the standard of proof. The Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 97(4), 943–1007.

Note: This Assignment will require outside research. Use at least two credible sources beyond the text material. Also discuss how you evaluated the credibility of the resources used.

You may consult the Library, the Internet, the textbook, other course materials, and any other outside resources in supporting your task, using proper citations in APA style.

View the Unit 3 Midterm Essay Checklist.

Paper Format

• The paper is to be completed in APA format.
• Page length is 4–5 pages of text (1,000 to 1,250 words). This does not include the title page or the References section.
• No more than 20% of paper may be copied directly from outside sources.
• Refer to the Assignment Guide under Academic Tools for additional formatting details.

PART 2- 1 PAGE

Research current events related to the course topics covered (Stop N Frisk, Racial Profiling, Police Misbehavior) and pick and write about at least three of these events and describe how your chosen items tie into a review of the course thus far. You may use the Library or any other outside resource for your research. Be sure to use proper APA citation.