Why might a district attorney agree to a plea bargain?

A district attorney might agree to a plea bargain primarily to mitigate the risk of a jury potentially reaching a not-guilty verdict. This scenario occurs when there is uncertainty surrounding the strength of the prosecution's case, witness reliability, or the possibility of legal defenses that the defendant might raise during trial. By accepting a plea bargain, the district attorney ensures a conviction and can provide a resolution to the case without the unpredictability of a trial outcome. This approach helps to secure a favorable outcome for the state, maintains efficiency within the court system, and allows resources to be allocated to other pending cases.

The other options lack the direct motivation that a district attorney experiences when considering the potential for a jury's decision. For instance, preserving public safety, while a significant factor in a district attorney's overall strategy, is not the immediate reason behind each individual plea bargain. Similarly, increasing case load or providing more trial opportunities doesn't align with the strategic considerations that come into play when evaluating the risks of trial.