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- Title
Terms and conditions apply: the effect of probation length and obligation disclosure on true and false guilty pleas.
- Authors
Yan, Shi; Wilford, Miko M.; Ferreira, Patricia A.
- Abstract
Objectives: Although the literature suggests wrongful guilty pleas exist, less attention has been devoted to the false guilty pleas to probation sentences. We examined the plea decision-making process when participants faced probation. Methods: We conducted a 2 (guilt status: innocent or guilty) × 2 (probation length: 1 year or 5 years) × 2 (probation obligations: general or detailed disclosure) between-participant experiment using an online sample (N = 906). Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions and were asked whether they would accept a plea offer. Results: Participants who were guilty and faced a shorter probation sentence were more likely to plead guilty. Participants receiving detailed disclosure were less likely to plead guilty, but the effect was less robust. Participants who faced a longer sentence and received detailed disclosure reported larger declines in plea willingness. Conclusion: The findings suggest that criminal defendants are sensitive to the length and disclosure of probation sentences.
- Subjects
GUILTY pleas; PROBATION; PLEAS (Criminal procedure); CRIMINAL defendants; PLEA bargaining; SECURITIES fraud; LIE detectors &; detection
- Publication
Journal of Experimental Criminology, 2024, Vol 20, Issue 2, p457
- ISSN
1573-3750
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11292-022-09543-9