The first section of the report discusses the impact that the lack of incentive to plead guilty has had in terms of the "cracked trial" syndrome and the tendency for guilty defendants to opt for a jury trial. The question is raised whether plea bargaining would contribute to greater courtroom efficiency. The second section examines the pressures inherent in plea bargaining practices by looking at the implications of introducing formalized plea bargaining into the British criminal justice system. There is a need to maintain a balance between acceptable inducement and improper pressure to plead guilty. 23 references