How can a defendant avoid the death penalty through sentence bargaining?

In the context of plea bargaining, a defendant can avoid the death penalty by entering into a sentence bargain. In this arrangement, the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a charge of murder in exchange for the prosecution’s assurance of a lighter or alternative sentence, thereby removing the possibility of a capital sentence.1

Sentence bargaining is one of three primary types of plea negotiations, alongside charge bargaining and count bargaining. While these agreements must be approved by a judge, they are frequently used to provide defendants with certainty and to limit the severity of potential sanctions. By pleading guilty, defendants avoid the risks and unpredictability inherent in a trial, while prosecutors and courts benefit from the efficient resolution of cases and the preservation of judicial resources.12