Plea bargaining is used in which system?

• A. Inquisitorial system
• B. Adversarial system
• C. Civil code system
• D. Mixed system

Answer: (B)

Plea bargaining is a feature of the adversarial system. In this setup, two opposing sides—the prosecution and the defense—present their arguments and evidence to a neutral judge (or jury), and outcomes emerge from this contest. To resolve cases efficiently and manage crowded dockets, prosecutors and defense lawyers often negotiate a deal: the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or accepts a lighter sentence in exchange for giving up the right to go to trial. This arrangement relies on the voluntary agreement of the defendant and is designed to save time and resources while still protecting the defendant’s rights through the judicial approval of the negotiated plea.

Inquisitorial systems, by contrast, center on a judge-led investigation where the truth-seeking process drives case resolution, leaving less room for negotiated settlements between prosecutor and defense. Civil code systems focus more on codified rules and civil matters rather than the particular criminal-procedure dynamic of negotiations, and mixed systems may blend features but the traditional practice of plea bargaining is most characteristic of the adversarial framework.