In criminal courts across the country, the vast majority of cases never make it to trial. One major reason is the trial penalty – the significant difference between the sentence offered in a plea deal and the much harsher sentence that often follows a conviction at trial. This dynamic places immense pressure on individuals to waive their constitutional right to trial, even when they may have a viable defense or claims of innocence.
Attendees leave with a clearer understanding of how trial penalties impact fairness and justice at the state level, and what policy and practice changes could help protect the right to trial and ensure more equitable outcomes.
Speakers
- Deborah Del Prete Sullivan, Legal Counsel & Director, Connecticut Office of the Chief Public Defender
- Lucian Dervan, Founding Director, Plea Bargaining Institute
- Preston Shipp, Director of Advocacy and Policy, Fair and Just Prosecution
- Nathan Psyno, Director of Economic Crime & Procedural Justice, NACDL (moderator)
Related Resources
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Read more about NACDL’s work on the trial penalty
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The New York State Trial Penalty: The Constitutional Right to Trial Under Attack, NACDL & NYSACDL (March 2021)
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