Do you believe in "plea bargaining"?
I, personally, do not think "plea bargaining" should be allowed in court cases. Do you?
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quote:Originally posted by beneteau
I, personally, do not think "plea bargaining" should be allowed in court cases. Do you?
What did they offer? Don0 -
"If you admit you were wrong, things will go a lot easier for you..."
That's what my wife tells me.....0 -
As unpleasant as the process is to most of us I do understand how it can make the difference whether a serious offender is convicted or released.
I was a juror at a trial where an ex-deputy sheriff, who was a drug offender was one of three that robbed a resturant at gunpoint. The ex-deputy sheriff was the one with the gun. The only evidence against the three was the driver of the get away car that plea bargined a much lessor sentence to put away the ones doing the robbery.
Sometimes it pays to let off a couple of participants that are guilty of lessor crimes in order to nail to the wall a sick, demented killer that needs to go away for life.[:0][:0]0 -
The system can't handle that many jury trials, and a plea is a "sure thing" for both the state and the defendant.
PLAINSCOUT can tell you from the prosecution's point of view why pleas serve a useful and necessary purpose.0 -
Only on Saturday's 0 -
It is overused but it is necessary,it can be used to help a weak case or to bargin with someone with a minor offence to get a conviction on something more major.Plus the court system is so slow now if everything had to go to trial it could take years for somethings to get to court 0 -
Why would anyone take a plea for an offense that they didn't do? I wonder how many people are in jail because they were intimidated into taking a plea for a crime they did not commit and didn't understand their rights... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sharpshooter039
Plus the court system is so slow now if everything had to go to trial it could take years for somethings to get to court
True; however, it already takes years for some trials to get to court. Another one of "our" amendments
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed."0 -
BENE,
Are you writing a paper or do you have a reason for your position?0 -
Plea bargains are a useful tool for an overworked criminal justice system. If there weren't so many offenders there might be more time and resources to prosecute the criminals. In almost two years of civilian law enforcement I have only had to show up to court for two trials, and one of those was postponed and eventually canceled due to the victim's unwillingness to cooperate with the district attorney. Is the plea bargaining system over used? Maybe sometimes, but certainly not as much as some would think. My brother rode with me one day and I arrested a lady for possession of Meth. He was surprised when he found out she would probably see probation and maybe, just maybe a few days in jail. 0 -
don quote:What did they offer? Don
...[:D][:D][:D]
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what I hated was a list of 10-20 charges and the DA gets a guilty plea to 1 charge and the rest are "Noll Pross" I didn't need the extra typing exercise. 0 -
quote:beneteau Posted
I, personally, do not think "plea bargaining" should be allowed in court cases. Do you?
Never.0 -
I don't like plea bargains either. If the person is guilty, prove it. If not, or you can't prove it, turn him loose.
Job security for the entire criminal justice system is the only reason courts are overcrowded.0 -
I see nothing wrong with them, in murder cases they plea for their life. They should be able to plea bargain for their life all the way to the gas chamber, the answer is still no. Now shut up and take your needle like a good little criminal. 0 -
I do it with my wife all the time. 0 -
I do it with my wife all the time. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by hicap47
"If you admit you were wrong, things will go a lot easier for you..."
That's what my wife tells me.....
I think you meant this as a joke but I also think there's merit in this argument. If somebody is willing to claim responsibility for what they've done, they've already taken the first step towards reform and a society might be willing to go a little easier on them.
Of course it's not always used in that high-minded way, but others have pointed out the other benefits already, e.g. reduce the number of jury trials, provide a 'sure thing' for both sides, go easy on one participant in a trial so that the other participants get nailed, etc.0 -
Yes in traffic court especially, times it your word against the arresting officer, and they are only human,subject to judgement calls. Did you really cross the double yellow line or just touch it missing a deer that the officer did not see.Can, and does happen. 0 -
Yes, I believe in them. The problem is prosecuting attorneys "over charge", for a plea bargain to the proper crime, when in fact, it should be much less than that. I think it is unethical to overcharge.
You may have heard in Michigan we have a jerk of an attorney general who himself is an admitted adulterer (and I have friends who used to work with him at the prosecutor's office, and can tell you stories of the who, when, and where of his dalliances), who approved and I believe added an amicus brief to an appeal where a married guy traded drugs for sex (extacy, i think was the drug). Selling drugs in Michigan, if done in conjunction with another felony, is a life offense. The prosecutor charged the guy with the drug crime, and sought enhancement becuase of the adultery, which is still a felony in michigan.
Now, noone has been charged with adultery in michigan in 34 years. How can you do this crap?0 -
Like much of anything else, I am sure it can and has been overused from time to time, but still probably necessary. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tpd4722
Plea bargains are a useful tool for an overworked criminal justice system. If there weren't so many offenders there might be more time and resources to prosecute the criminals. In almost two years of civilian law enforcement I have only had to show up to court for two trials, and one of those was postponed and eventually canceled due to the victim's unwillingness to cooperate with the district attorney. Is the plea bargaining system over used? Maybe sometimes, but certainly not as much as some would think. My brother rode with me one day and I arrested a lady for possession of Meth. He was surprised when he found out she would probably see probation and maybe, just maybe a few days in jail.
Damn right I was surprised. It was a freaking felony!!!0 -
Only if its me or you.
Think about it for a minute.
Any District attorney can file charges against a ham sandwich,
And you can be the meat very easy.
All it takes is one phone call to the proper authority.
Then you can become a target of a full blown investigation, that can take a "bad turn for the worse" over minute details.0 -
quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo
The system can't handle that many jury trials, and a plea is a "sure thing" for both the state and the defendant.
PLAINSCOUT can tell you from the prosecution's point of view why pleas serve a useful and necessary purpose.
If there were no pleas, then the courts would be backlogged with cases. Our taxes would have to be increased to hire more prosecutors and judges.0
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