Pressure from the prosecutor came in a variety of forms including direct external pressure, intimidating the defendant with several crimes, and severe punishment [Bor851]. Indirect pressure factors such as getting a severe punishment if the defendant refused the plea bargain played a major role, likewise the belief that a guilty verdict was inevitable, and concern of the individual's family [Bor851]. Bordens and Bassett reached the conclusion that majority of people accept plea bargains to minimize punishment and because of factors such as direct and indirect pressure [Bor851]. In addition to individuals being pressured and wanting a lesser punishment, prosecutors ultimately play the most significant role in plea bargaining. .
The courtroom workgroup contains the individuals and teams who work collectively to effectively prosecute a criminal court case. However, when it comes to plea bargaining prosecutors are the main and most important players in the plea bargaining process. Although prosecutors are not required to offer a plea bargain, in the case of charging an individual they decide whether to offer a plea bargain and what the offer should consist of [Dav07]. According to Maynard (1984), "Prosecutors base their decision on whether to proceed to trial or enter a plea bargain on factors such as the gravity of the crime, the defendant's criminal record and characteristics, the victim, and the evidence"(p. 56). Offering a plea bargain can happen at any stage in the process, but prosecutors make the decision early in the process [Dav07].The prosecutor may make a plea offer in open court or after a trial if the prosecutor fears that the defendant may be acquitted of all charges [Dav07]. To be able to offer a plea bargain at any time in the trial process causes a lot of discrepancies within the criminal justice system. Once the defendant is issued a copy of the charges, the prosecutor will later come and let the defendant know rather or not there is a plea to offer and whether he or she must accept the offer by a certain time or date.
