Trials Become Less Common and Acquittals Even More Rare

[The Straight Story]

Trials Become Less Common and Acquittals Even More Rare

Decades of adopting tougher sentencing laws in the U.S., including mandatory minimum sentences, have had the effect of magnifying the power of local prosecutors, who have intimidated defendants into accepting deals and avoiding trials altogether.

In 1977, one out of five federal district court criminal cases went to trial. By 2010, the ratio had dropped dramatically…to only one of 33.

The result of this dynamic has been a reduction in the number of criminal trials. While this outcome might prove to be a cost savings, critics say district attorneys have accumulated too much power within the judicial system.

...

Now there is often a sense of resentment in the judicial system against defendants who insist on going to trial, which leads to harsher sentences for those who do and then lose the verdict. Thirty years ago there was one acquittal in federal district courts for every 22 guilty pleas or trial convictions. Last year, there was only one acquittal for every 212 plea bargains or guilty verdicts.

http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/Trials_Become_Less_Common_and_Acquittals_Even_More_Rare_111012

[woo me with science]

1. K&R nt

[libinnyandia]

2. trials

As Nixon's former attorney general said: only guilty people are arrested:o)

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, The Straight Story.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. And people say we are not a police state. nt

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Perhaps modern forensics, evidence gathering, and the ease of communication

has led to more confidence in finding/arresting the culpable parties.
There's alot to be said for putting the actual guilty people into interrogation rooms.

[Rex]

8. I think it is the live-reality TVEE shows that do most of the work.

The COPS, MSN-LOCKUP and CSI shows have gone a LONG LONG way in programming The People correctly into fearing law and authority in general. Just look at the national crime rate...going down and down for years now, despite what your local news wants you to think.

It is true folks, TVEE programming really does work.

[FiveGoodMen]

9. Yup. If no one ever makes another cop show from now till the end of time

It'll still be too soon.

[NNN0LHI]

6. The federal courts around here have about a 98% conviction rate

That is remarkable.

Don

[janet118]

7. My son is now serving time for a first offense drug possession . . .

because of mandatory minimums and a prosecution that doesn't have to do anything because the sentencing guidelines make their work a slam dunk. The court doesn't take individual circumstances into account and it's the amount of the illegal substance that determines the charges. (14 grams of cocaine <@ 2 TBSP> = drug traffikking charge = 3 years with no possibility of parole). They offer a plea bargain for a slightly lesser charge with the possibility of parole and the defendant has little choice but to take it. Then, even if he is released on parole, his voting and driving privileges are not reinstated until the full sentence is served. This system sucks, especially since you know that those with connections and money never have to face the music.