How much can a guilty plea reduce a defendant's sentence according to U.S. research?

In the United States, research indicates that defendants who choose to plead guilty generally receive less severe sentences compared to similarly charged individuals who exercise their constitutional right to a trial.1

Statistics show that the average sentence resulting from a felony conviction by a jury trial is typically much longer than the sentence given to a defendant who enters a guilty plea. According to research, the act of pleading guilty alone can reduce a defendant's sentence by approximately two-thirds.1

While plea bargaining is a common practice used to manage court resources and provide certainty for all parties involved, it remains a subject of ethical debate. Critics argue that the practice may penalize those who exercise their right to trial and that innocent defendants may feel pressured to accept plea deals due to the complexities of the justice system.23