Description
Product ID: | 9781509957439 |
Product Form: | Hardback |
Country of Manufacture: | GB |
Title: | Sentencing the Self-Convicted |
Subtitle: | The Ethics of Pleading Guilty |
Authors: | Author: Jesper Ryberg, Julian V Roberts |
Page Count: | 256 |
Subjects: | Comparative law, Comparative law, Legal aspects of criminology, Criminal justice law, Sentencing and punishment, Criminology: legal aspects, Criminal justice law, Sentencing & punishment |
Description: | This book addresses the fundamental ethical and legal aspects, penal consequences, and social context arising from a citizen’s acceptance of guilt. The focus is upon sentencing people who have pleaded guilty; in short, post-adjudication, rather than issues arising from discussions in the pretrial phase of the criminal process. The vast majority of defendants across all common law jurisdictions plead guilty and as a result receive a reduced sentence. Concessions by a defendant attract more lenient State punishment in all western legal systems. The concession is significant: At a stroke, a guilty plea relieves the State of the burden of proving the defendant''s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and in open court. Plea-based sentencing has become even more visible in recent years.The book provides insightful commentary on the following questions: - If an individual voluntarily accepts guilt, should the State receive this plea without further investigation or any disinterested adjudication?- Is it ethically acceptable to allow suspects and defendants, to self-convict in this manner, without independent confirmation and evidence to support a conviction? - If it is acceptable, what is the appropriate State response to such offenders?- If the defendant is detained pretrial, the ability to secure release in return for a plea may be particularly enticing. Might it be too enticing, resulting in wrongful convictions? This book addresses the fundamental ethical and legal aspects, penal consequences, and social context arising from a citizen’s acceptance of guilt. The focus is upon sentencing people who have pleaded guilty; in short, post-adjudication, rather than issues arising from discussions in the pretrial phase of the criminal process. The vast majority of defendants across all common law jurisdictions plead guilty and as a result receive a reduced sentence. Concessions by a defendant attract more lenient State punishment in all western legal systems. The concession is significant: At a stroke, a guilty plea relieves the State of the burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and in open court. Plea-based sentencing has become even more visible in recent years. The book provides insightful commentary on the following questions: - If an individual voluntarily accepts guilt, should the State receive this plea without further investigation or any disinterested adjudication?- Is it ethically acceptable to allow suspects and defendants, to self-convict in this manner, without independent confirmation and evidence to support a conviction? - If it is acceptable, what is the appropriate State response to such offenders?- If the defendant is detained pretrial, the ability to secure release in return for a plea may be particularly enticing. Might it be too enticing, resulting in wrongful convictions? |
Imprint Name: | Hart Publishing |
Publisher Name: | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Country of Publication: | GB |
Publishing Date: | 2023-02-23 |