What was the primary reason for the sudden increase in plea bargaining in the 1920s prohibition era in the U.S.? Criminal defendants began asking more frequently if they could plead guilty so they could access the facilities available in prisons at the time. Judges and prosecutors wanted to avoid publicity and the potential danger of conducting criminal trials. There were not enough public defenders to handle criminal trials in the areas where they were most needed. It seemed as if the only way to cope with a large increase in criminal cases was to bargain with defendants to plead guilty in return for lighter punishment