Which of the following best describes the purpose of plea bargaining?

The purpose of plea bargaining is primarily to expedite the legal process by resolving cases before they reach trial. This mechanism allows the prosecution and the defense to negotiate a deal, often involving the defendant pleading guilty to lesser charges or receiving a reduced sentence in exchange for avoiding the lengthy and costly trial process. This is beneficial for the court system as it alleviates caseload pressures and allows for more efficient use of judicial resources.

In contrast, ensuring that all defendants go to trial would only serve to burden the court system, prolonging cases and leading to backlogs. Formalizing legal charges against a defendant is part of the initial stages of legal proceedings and is not the primary goal of plea bargaining. Lastly, reducing the number of lawyers in the courtroom does not align with the objectives of the legal system; rather, the focus of plea bargaining is on resolving cases effectively and efficiently while still accommodating the involvement of legal counsel.