IT IS ARGUED THAT THE CONFESSION INHERENT IN A PLEA BARGAIN HELPS TO RELIEVE THE GUILT, NOT ONLY OF THE OFFENDER WHO ENTERS INTO IT AND THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO HELP TO NEGOTIATE AND ENFORCE IT, BUT ALSO OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON WHOSE BEHALF SUCH PLEAS ARE MADE. THUS PLEA BARGAINS WOULD BE PRODUCTS NOT ONLY OF SO-CALLED 'OBJECTIVE' CONSIDERATIONS, SUCH AS THE NEED TO AVOID OVERTAXING AN ALREADY HOPELESSLY OVERBURDENED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO OF POWERFUL UNCONSCIOUS MOTIVES TO DEAL WITH THE GUILT ASSOCIATED WITH INNER FEELINGS AND PASSIONS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO PARENTAL AND CULTURALLY CONDITIONED BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL NORMS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PLEA BARGAINS HELP TO FULFILL THESE SIGNIFICANT UNCONSCIOUS NEEDS MAY PROVE TO BE THE BASIC REASON WHY, DESPITE THE MANY OBJECTIONS RAISED, THEIR USE CONTINUES TO PROLIFERATE. (RCB)