The Portrayal and Impact of Plea Bargaining in American Legal-Crime Cinema

Some movies may contain legal teachings relevant to citizens and provide valuable legal knowledge for research scholars. Among the topics explored in certain American legal-crime genre films is the concept of plea bargaining. This agreement initially originated in the United States and has been adopted by many countries with common law systems and some countries with civil law systems. Examining the essence, fundamentals, and the process of utilizing the plea bargaining within the American common law system through visual scenes portrayed in American movies can lead to a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses associated with this agreement. A closer observation and analysis of movies such as 'A Few Good Men,' 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' and 'The Judge' reveal that plea bargaining represents a contractual agreement between the prosecuting authority, acting on behalf of the government, and the defense attorney, representing the accused. This agreement entails that the defendant will plead guilty to the criminal charge in return for a more lenient sentence. The origins of plea bargaining can be traced back to considerations like the sufficiency of the presented evidence to support the charges and the pursuit of economic efficiency. Plea bargaining typically occurs after the investigation, the formal charging of the accused, and prior to the commencement of the trial. Studying the advantages and disadvantages of plea bargaining, as well as considering its adaptation within the Iranian legal system, could be of interest to criminal law scholars and lawmakers, given the existence of similar concepts such as Nolle prosequi and defendant cooperation with the judicial authorities in exchange for reduced penalties in Iran.