Why do innocent people plead guilty?
A recent article that I read discusses a problem that confronts every criminal defense lawyer — when the Commonwealth’s Attorney offers a sweet deal with a guilty plea to a lesser charge, with no jail time, but the defendant is innocent, what does the defendant do? The article, citing psychological studies and real-life examples, is clear — people plead guilty because they think it is in their best interests to do so. It’s not a moral matter — it’s a practical matter. ...
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