A more open system of plea bargaining was advocated by the Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (para 156). The report argues that this would do much to alleviate the problem of 'cracked trials' in which defendants do not plead guilty until the last moment, wasting the time of witness, the police, the CPS and the court. In a system where the vast majority of cases in the Crown Court and magistrates' courts result in guilty pleas and 81.5%, respectively) the operation of the plea bargain becomes very important. The Commission research indicated that'cracked : trials' accounted quarter Commission noted sentence discounts between guilty pleas established practice crown court. Commission suggested higher discounts should available those plead guilty earlier process. report states:

doi:10.4324/9781843143451-124

Chapter

A more open system of plea bargaining was advocated by the Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (para 156). The report argues that this would do much to alleviate the problem of 'cracked trials' in which defendants do not plead guilty until the last moment, wasting the time of witness, the police, the CPS and the court. In a system where the vast majority of cases in the Crown Court and magistrates' courts result in guilty pleas and 81.5%, respectively) the operation of the plea bargain becomes very important. The Commission research indicated that'cracked

Chapter

A more open system of plea bargaining was advocated by the Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (para 156). The report argues that this would do much to alleviate the problem of 'cracked trials' in which defendants do not plead guilty until the last moment, wasting the time of witness, the police, the CPS and the court. In a system where the vast majority of cases in the Crown Court and magistrates' courts result in guilty pleas and 81.5%, respectively) the operation of the plea bargain becomes very important. The Commission research indicated that'cracked

ABSTRACT

The most common reason for defendants delaying a plea of guilty until the last minute is a reluctance to face the facts until they are at the door of the court. It is often said too that a defendant has a considerable incentive to behave in this way. The longer the delay, the more the likelihood of witnesses becoming intimidated or forgetting to turn up or disappearing.