SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Teenagers are more likely to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit because they are less able to make mature decisions, new research shows.
Experts have called for major changes to the criminal justice system after finding innocent younger people are far more likely admit to offences, even when innocent, than adults.
Those who carried out the study say teenagers should not be allowed to make deals where they face a lesser charge in return for pleading guilty. The study suggests young people are more likely to be enticed by these deals, and take what they see as an advantageous offer even when they have done nothing wrong.
Most criminal convictions in the UK and the USA occur as the result of guilty pleas, rather than trial. This means the majority of convictions are the result of decisions made by people accused of crimes rather than jurors.
The research was carried out in the USA, where a system known as "plea bargaining" is utilised, but the academics say their discovery has implications for countries across the world that allow teenagers accused of crimes to receive a sentence or charge reduction by pleading guilty. Specifically, the researchers recommend restricting reductions that may entice innocent teenagers into pleading guilty and making it easier for teenagers to change pleas after they have been entered.
Other research has found adolescents are less able to perceive risk and resist the influence of peers because of developmental immaturity.
https://phys.org/news/2018-03-teenagers-guilty-crimes-didnt-commit.html
-- submitted from IRC
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday March 17 2018, @03:05PM (2 children)
Shoplifting?! Hahahahah, come on, man. At least man up and do the crime the cool kids do -- vandalism.
Shoplifting is the "mommy and daddy don't pay any attention to me" crime. Unless that shoplifting involves bringing a truck or panel van up to the warehouse and taking off with boxes and pallets of merchandise.
LP (loss-prevention) is no fucking joke in modern retail. They have a Stazi and NSA-like array of human and technical resources at their grasp. Even decades ago, at any given moment, any LP operator could remote in to any store and look through any camera they wished.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Saturday March 17 2018, @06:49PM (1 child)
As someone who has shoplifted, in my case it was the "I can't afford to buy enough food" crime. And I was never even close to being caught. Apparently, this is relatively common, as grocers experience a lot more of what they term "shrinkage" than most retailers: about 1/15 of their inventory is lost or stolen.
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 17 2018, @07:47PM
A friend of mine would steal ~100$ worth of steal and liquor daily from local grocery stores. Now the steaks have anti theft devices on them.