The guilty plea discount: does pragmatism win over proportionality and principle?

Article

Mackenzie, Geraldine. 2007. "The guilty plea discount: does pragmatism win over proportionality and principle?" Southern Cross University Law Review. 11, pp. 205-223.
Article Title

The guilty plea discount: does pragmatism win over proportionality and principle?

ERA Journal ID36801
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorMackenzie, Geraldine
Journal TitleSouthern Cross University Law Review
Journal Citation11, pp. 205-223
Number of Pages19
Year2007
Place of PublicationLismore, Australia
ISSN1329-3737
Web Address (URL)http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/law/index.php/9/
Abstract

A discount in sentencing quantum is rroutinely provided to defendants who plead guilty to offences. This article examines the reasons for such a discount, and argues that there is little appropriate justification; and further that it creates, in effect, a penalty for defendants who exercise their right to trial. It is further argued that the existence of such a discount can provide an inappropriate incentive to enter a guilty plea for defendants who may otherwise have had a valid reason for exercising their right to trial.

Keywordssentencing; plea discount
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020500105. Legal ethics
440299. Criminology not elsewhere classified
440203. Courts and sentencing
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Copyright of articles is retained by the contributors.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Law
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