Plea bargaining is a process in which a defendant in a criminal case agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge, or to the original charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence, rather than going to trial. The vast majority of criminal cases in the United States are resolved through plea bargaining, which is seen as essential for the efficiency of the criminal justice system, as it allows prosecutors and courts to manage overwhelming caseloads with limited resources. Proponents argue that plea bargaining provides benefits to all parties: the defendant receives a certain and often reduced sentence, the prosecutor secures a conviction without the risk and expense of a trial, and the victim is spared the trauma of testifying. However, critics argue that plea bargaining can be coercive, as defendants may feel pressured to plead guilty to avoid the possibility of a much harsher sentence after trial. They also contend that it undermines the integrity of the judicial process by replacing the search for truth with a negotiated outcome.