Here in the UK our dumbcluck government has managed to fill the jails despite giving most criminals at least 50 warnings not to repeat their crimes, so there's a problem coming in the future (crime rate still rising).
Apparently the notion of 'plea bargaining' has been proposed as a solution to reducing periods offenders spend in jail.
I only know what I hear and see on film and tv.
Has anyone anything useful on the subject either way?

Tony

very common in the US

http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/index....FF27531AF19C24

Thanks for that Mr M!

It seems everyone wins except for 'the people/potential victims' who want the criminals off the streets.

Governments spend less on housing and processing criminals; criminals can manipulate the system to see which way the wind's blowing and 'give in' even at a late stage to ensure a lower, negotiated sentence (isn't that a bit like asking legislators to control their own pay?); lawyers, as ever, don't lose as they can process a higher number of cases in a given time; the police can get more through the system also, often with less paperwork.

Great!

Tony

Originally posted by tonyo

It seems everyone wins except for 'the people/potential victims' who want the criminals off the streets.

that is the downfall.

"plea bargaining" is a crutch that lets the prosecutor notch up a conviction. That's about all it's good for.
"immunity from prosecution" is another crutch that
disables true justice.
Not that either side -is- interested in finding guilt or innocence. Getting a conviction by any means, getting the guilty off by any means.. that's the system we have.

and i love it!

Originally posted by tonyo
Has anyone anything useful on the subject either way?

The only sure way to reduce crime is by tough prosucution and an armed populace. But that's an argument for another thread.

Daren

I see a movie deal in the makings.

Originally posted by Daren
The only sure way to reduce crime is by tough prosucution and an armed populace. But that's an argument for another thread.

Daren

Or for people to be educated from infancy to be active, useful and responsible members of society with a respect for the rule of law and this respect being demonstrated from those at the very top downwards.
Maybe Utopian as there'll always be a criminal element, but while everyone can see others profiting from legalised fraud, or at least with the new "Draconian" measures, having to spend a max of 10 years in gaol for swindling billions, it's going to be hard to convince the next generation.