Compounding Negative Consequences of Misdemeanor Penalties

Prior research demonstrates that the misdemeanor court process encourages defendants to resolve their cases quickly and efficiently at the expense of due process. Building on previous scholarly research, we found that misdemeanor defendants adopt the court’s efficiency language immediately after resolving their cases, minimizing the consequences of the financial penalties and the necessity of counsel and downplaying the future consequences. Longitudinal interviews, however, uncovered disparities for those without financial advantages. [Released Feb 2025]

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Report cover: “You Feel Like You Ruined Your Life”: The Compounding Negative Consequences of Misdemeanor PenaltiesRead more reports from this series on misdemeanor waivers of counsel.

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