I agree completely with that. But, I believe in this particular instance all of the fault lies entirely with the prosecution.
In most jurisdictions, judges do have to essentially approve plea agreements. But, in some instances, their hands are tied by circumstance. For instance, if the state drops a charge, the judge doesn’t have much recourse (unless of course Michael Flynn is the accused). All the judge could approve or deny is the agreement on sentencing. But, when the state drops the rape charge leaving only the outstanding drug charge to be adjudicated, I suspect the sentencing is dictated by state statute...thus tying the judge’s hands.
Judges can wreak havoc on the system by being soft on sentencing. But, it’s still the prosecutors who have the most potential control over the system simply by refusing to prosecute cases, even if those are slam-dunk prosecutions. This is being demonstrated by Soros DA in a number of big cities today. We’re in an entirely new dynamic; soft prosecutors.
I pray this turns the woman’s life around and she gets clean and sober, and stops hanging around train stations looking for drugs.