In Federal criminal cases only about 3% actually go to trial. The remainder are pleaded down by the prosecution in agreement for a guilty plea by the accused.

It is interesting to me that in ancient Hebrew law, the accused could not be convicted based on his own testimony. I was reminded of that as I read this comment in the book “The Trial of Jesus” by Walter Chandler:

“Some weak-minded people, unable to support the torture of a harassing examination, and eager to regain their liberty, make a full confession, accusing themselves in order not to be indicted. . . .from want of responsibility . . . accept or confirm everything of which they know nothing.” (Vol. 1, page 143).

Perhaps Hebrew jurisprudence knew something about human nature!

I learned about his firsthand when I was unjustly accused a few years ago of conspiracy to defraud the government. And I learned I wasn’t the only one who was eager to accuse myself in order to avoid the “torture of a harassing examination” (or trial), or one who had spend their entire savings in preparation of the battle and couldn’t afford to proceed.

Several inmates are incarcerated because they couldn’t afford the battle, or they didn’t want to put themselves in a position where they could be incarcerated for 30-40 years for some technical violation of obscure laws. Many are in prison when they could actually be a benefit to the community by some community service and be taxpaying citizens. Cost, torture, and loss of freedom are great incentives to just give in!

Sometimes we have things backwards.