Facts

In 1979 Alaska did a study of

the ban on plea bargains
which had an increase in
the productivity of the
criminal system.
Banning plea barganing
would stop giving criminals
a way out of their real
punishment. While also
making the victims get the
justice that they deserve.

It´s no contest do

whats right

By Ambra DiMauro

Ambra_Dimauro@Students.nksd.net
401-218-8434

The impossible choice called plea

bargaining takes place tens of

thousands of times every day in

America.
It’s how over 95 percent of all

state and federal convictions

occur, with minority defendants

receiving disproportionately

Defendants lives are

worse offers.
determined primarily by
In fact, in 2012, the Supreme

power dynamics and

Court said that “plea bargaining .

. . is not some adjunct to the

leverage, not facts and law.
criminal justice system; it is the
It happens somewhat
As of 1996 there were only a total of 4%

criminal justice system.” entirely behind closed of cases that went to trial.
doors, 63.1% guilty pleas and the other 32.9%

rather than in front of a were either dismissed or non-trial

judge, a jury, and the Showing that most people are either to

American public afraid or pressured into plea bargains