Plea Bargaining

doi:10.1017/9781009119375.012

12 - Plea Bargaining

Understanding the Decision-Making Processes of Plea Negotiation

from Part II - Pretrial Phase Decision-Making

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2024

Samantha Luna and

Edited by

Matthew T. Huss and

Monica K. Miller: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
Logan A. Yelderman: Affiliation:
Prairie View A & M University, Texas
Matthew T. Huss: Affiliation:
Creighton University, Omaha
Jason A. Cantone: Affiliation:
George Mason University, Virginia

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Summary

Plea bargaining does not occur in a vacuum. There are several actors (e.g., prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants) directly involved with plea negotiations and plea decisions. As approximately 95 percent of state and federal convictions result from guilty pleas, the decision-making process that defendants and other actors undergo during plea negotiations is important to understand. This chapter will address the unique and overlapping theoretical, practical, cognitive, and social influence factors that underlie the plea negotiation process and ultimate plea decision. Specifically, this chapter will focus on negotiations – particularly how attorneys approach negotiation ideologically and practically – and the power dynamics present when two or more actors attempt to influence each other. Furthermore, we will discuss the basic social (e.g., obedience to authority) and cognitive (e.g., heuristics) processes that drive defendant decision-making when interacting with prosecutors and defense attorneys. Finally, policy implications and future directions for research will be discussed throughout the chapter.

Keywords

plea negotiations decision-making plea bargaining prosecutors defense attorneys defendants

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making , pp. 178 - 192

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009119375.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2024

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12 - Plea Bargaining

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