ACDEC speech

intro

In the 1970s, A young single mother named Mary was charged with dealing narcotics–in spite of a lack of eye-witness testimony, past record, or even possession of narcotics on her person or in her apartment.  While the police collected evidence, Mary sat in jail and  became increasingly worried for her two children, At some point, though, Mary was informed that she would be able to get out of jail sooner–and get back to those children–if she just signed a plea  deal admitting her guilt. On the one hand, She had an urgent responsibility to her son and other child, but on the other a sense of injustice when considering admitting to something that she had not done. 

Intro 2?

According to Simonia Grossi from Loyola Law School, this is the case  for 95% of Americans who sign plea deals instead of going to trial, and we can all see the problems there, right? With plea bargains becoming such a crucial part of our justice system, it is important to keep in mind the shortcomings that come with the shortcut. These shortcomings can collect over time into more pressing issues, from people giving up their social liberties, to even trapping others in the legal system forever. These negative impacts can leave society in worse shape than it is now. Plea bargains are a flawed part of the US court system; we rely on them too heavily, and they often trap the working-class into a cycle of crime. 

.

.

.

.