Pubdate: Sun, 14 Jun 2015
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2015 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Ilya Shlyakhter

INNOCENT PEOPLE CAN FOLD UNDER THREAT OF MANDATORY MINIMUMS

Re "Repeal mandatory minimum drug sentences" (Editorial, June 7): How 
many innocent people plead guilty to avoid the chance of a long 
mandatory sentence? No matter how weak the evidence, a small chance 
of a long unjust sentence can coerce a guilty plea.

All protections of a fair trial are useless if prosecutors can coerce 
defendants to give them up.

Mandatory sentences greatly undermine confidence in the justice system.

Ilya Shlyakhter

Cambridge
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