# Many Americans think prosecutors have the final say on plea deals

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/many-americans-think-prosecutors-have-the-final-say-on-plea-deals/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

Nearly half of Americans (45%) say the prosecutor has the final say on whether a plea deal is offered, according to an October 2024 Verasight survey.

About a quarter (27%) are unsure, and 20% instead name the judge. Beyond them, few point to the grand jury (4%), someone else (2%), the victim of the crime (2%), or the police (1%).

## Topline

In your local community, who has the final say on offering a plea deal in criminal cases?

Many Americans think prosecutors have the final say on plea deals.

- The prosecutor: 45.1%
- I don't know: 26.7%
- The judge: 20.2%
- The grand jury: 4.0%
- Someone else: 1.7%
- The victim of the crime: 1.6%
- The police: 0.7%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2024-10-01 → 2024-10-11
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.4%
- Module: educ_pol
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#authority-over-plea-deals-in-local-community](https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#authority-over-plea-deals-in-local-community)

## Citation

Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2024-103, fielded October 1-11, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#authority-over-plea-deals-in-local-community](https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#authority-over-plea-deals-in-local-community)