U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

PRELIMINARY HEARING IN CALIFORNIA - ADAPTIVE PROCEDURES IN A PLEA BARGAIN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

NCJ Number
37548
Journal
Stanford Law Review Volume: 28 Issue: 6 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 1207-1246
Author(s)
R N WHITE; T E WILSON
Date Published
1976
Length
40 pages
Annotation
THIS NOTE EXAMINES AND QUESTIONS THE PROPRIETY OF THE PRESENT RESTRICTED SCOPE OF PRETRIAL DISCOVERY IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON GUILTY PLEAS FOR CASE DISPOSITION.
Abstract
THE INCENTIVES THAT PROMOTE THE SYSTEM'S RELIANCE ON NEGOTIATED PLEAS OF GUILTY ARE EXPLAINED POINTING OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF SIGNIFICANT PRETRIAL DISCOVERY, THE SYSTEM EXTRACTS UNKNOWING WAIVERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AN OVERVIEW OF THE CALIFORNIA PRETRIAL PROCESS AND THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH PRETRIAL CRIMINAL DISCOVERY OCCURS IS PRESENTED. THE INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF THE PRELIMINARY HEARING IN THE PLEA BARGAIN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AND THE REASONS WHY IT HAS NOT FUNCTIONED ADEQUATELY AS A DISCOVERY PROCEEDING ARE DISCUSSED. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR SPECIFIC REFORMS IN THE OPERATION OF THE PRELIMINARY HEARING IN CALIFORNIA DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BARGAINING INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DEFENDANTS AND TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)

Downloads

No download available

Availability