Final answer:
A plea bargain is an agreement in the legal system where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence, simplifying case management for the courts and often providing a guaranteed outcome for both prosecution and defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
A bargain struck between the defendant's lawyer and the prosecutor, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser crime in exchange for a reduction in the severity of the charge or punishment, is known as a plea bargain. This judicial practice helps manage the flow of cases through the legal system, allowing courts to resolve cases without the need for a full trial.
Plea bargaining can be beneficial to both the prosecution and the defense. For the prosecution, it ensures a conviction and avoids the risk and expense of a trial. For the defense, it provides a chance at a lighter sentence than might result from being found guilty at trial. Additionally, the defendant waives certain rights, including the right to trial and sometimes the right to appeal, when accepting a plea bargain.
The concept of a plea bargain is similar to the strategic decisions faced by individuals in the classic Prisoner's Dilemma, where the optimal outcome for both parties depends on their ability to cooperate, but their individual self-interest may drive them to make decisions that lead to a worse collective outcome.