Stacked Against, Part Two: Charge stacking and plea bargains in North Carolina – what you need to know
Equal punishment for equal crimes is a myth in our justice system
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Equal punishment for equal crimes is a myth in our justice system
Defense lawyers think a new plea bargaining policy is overwhelming the court system and disincentivizing plea deals. The county's top prosecutor says the rise is in part due to the pandemic.
We spoke to attorneys, law professors, advocates and incarcerated people about charge stacking and plea deals and the effect they have on the criminal justice system.
At 17, Terence Smith faced two charges for his role in an armed robbery. After turning down a plea deal, he stood charged with five more crimes and was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.
The American Bar Association’s 2023 Plea Bargain Task Force Report communicates there are many benefits of plea bargaining in the criminal justice system, including the preservation of resources and a mechanism to induce defendants to cooperate and to accept responsibility for their actions. As well, plea bargains can be used to avoid some of the ...