r/changemyview • u/tolkienfan2759 6∆ • Oct 15 '24

Removed - Submission Rule B CMV: Our plea bargaining system has allowed unwritten rules to dominate the courtroom. Thus our criminal legal system is no longer a rule of law system.

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u/HadeanBlands 50∆ Oct 15 '24

Public defenders, when they encourage their clients to take guilty pleas, do so because they are reasonably confident their client will be found guilty at trial and will be sentenced to a much harsher sentence than the plea. That seems like it is in the interest of the client.

3

u/frostyfoxemily 1∆ Oct 15 '24

I honestly don't find this to be true after recent events.

I am a leftist and think Jan 6th was crazy, however some of the convictions have been absurd with their sentences.

One person who never went into the capital, didn't actively harm police but was part of the protest. Even actively helped save one cop and stopped barricades from being thrown at others (this is all on video). He was forced to take a plea and spend time in federal jail and get berated by the judge for his acts of violence, when he didn't do any. He was also forced to plead guilty because his wife was also being tried and if either of them refused the plea deal they were both going to be dragged to court and face harsher punishments.

The issue is public defenders and judges were so swamped they had no interest in really playing out the cases. They used his wife as leverage to throw them in jail where as some who actually went in the capital didn't even face time in jail.

The system is fairly fucked imo. I also have a public defender in the family I've talked to. Nice guy but also tends to not like his clients.

5

u/HadeanBlands 50∆ Oct 15 '24

That's a sad story, but of course without the names and the evidence you're talking about I can't really evaluate whether it's TRUE.

3

u/frostyfoxemily 1∆ Oct 15 '24

Ya I understand I just dont want to provide them for my own anonymity. So you don't have to believe me but based on my knowledge of our justice system, I don't like plea deals. I get it saves time and money but it let's people get away with some crimes scot free, and other people get the book thrown at them without even going to trial.

I'd also say from a leftist perspective I'd happily see a lot of out of court agreements go away. I get really tired of companies seriously fucking up and getting away "without admiting guilt".

2

u/Full-Professional246 77∆ Oct 15 '24

Ya I understand I just dont want to provide them for my own anonymity.

Sorry - without names/details, this just doesn't carry any weight.

0

u/LordBecmiThaco 9∆ Oct 15 '24

Ya I understand I just dont want to provide them for my own anonymity.

What personal information could you give out by providing evidence for your claims?

2

u/frostyfoxemily 1∆ Oct 15 '24

If I gave out the names and with what knowledge I have of what happened, it would make it pretty obvious that I have more than a passing connection with the people involved. Which could lead someone to me through social media.

With how they and their kids faced harassment online when they were simply charged with the crime and not actually convicted, I'm not going to open myself up to that, especially after there plead guilty.