Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Zigurd 3199 days ago
What if someone did it and is willing to admit it?

Under current policies, that results in more lenient punishment than the innocent who fight their charges. So, yes, try them.

Where is the money for that going to come from? Ending the Drug War would cut the number of criminal cases by more than half.
1 comments
wil421 3199 days ago
The whole point of a plea deal is to give a more lenient sentence in exchange for admitting guilt. If that wasn't the case everyone would just go to trial for everything, there's always a chance of getting out.

Even traffic court works this way.

link
Zigurd 3199 days ago
In theory. In practice, extreme punishments, along with penury from the costs of a defense, have to be threatened because the CJ system has lost the ability to deliver justice at trial.
link
BearGoesChirp 3196 days ago
>The whole point of a plea deal is to give a more lenient sentence in exchange for admitting guilt.

Which is the same thing as giving a more extreme sentence to someone insisting on their right to a trial.

link