Not a surprise, given 90-95% of cases end in a plea bargain [1]. Most defendants (even innocent ones) would rather give in to the threats of prosecutors and acc

Not a surprise, given 90-95% of cases end in a plea bargain [1]. Most defendants (even innocent ones) would rather give in to the threats of prosecutors and accept a guaranteed lower sentence than risk a much harsher one in trial [2]. So yeah, you have to have a really strong conviction your case will stand in court to reject a plea deal and try your odds in trial. IMO, the system is made to be fair at the surface level, but it's utterly broken when you consider second-order consequences. The incentives are tilted towards prosecutors being incentivized for putting people in jail no matter what (and jail systems profiting from it). [1] https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/PleaBargainingResearchSummary.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/docu... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8