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Saw a stat that only 2 to 5 percent of federal cases actually go to trial, is that really true?
I was reading a piece from the Pew Research Center that said about 2 percent of federal criminal cases end in a trial, and it got me thinking about how most of what people picture from TV courtrooms almost never happens. On one side, you could say this means the system works because cases get settled without wasting time and money on trials. On the other side, doesn't it feel like defendants are just pressured into plea deals because going to trial is too risky? I want to hear from folks who actually practice law on whether that 2 percent number is a good thing or a bad sign.
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stone.jesse21d ago
My only brush with the law was a speeding ticket in '09 and even that felt like a hostage negotiation. From what I understand, prosecutors stack on charges so the plea deal looks like a life raft, which means that 2 percent number is less about a smooth system and more about a scary one.
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