Constitutional rights Quote by Michelle Alexander
“More than 90 percent of criminal cases are never tried before a jury. Most people charged with crimes forfeit their constitutional rights and plead guilty.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Jim Crow, 2010
Most criminal cases never reach a jury; defendants often lose rights and plead guilty.
In simple terms: Many crimes skip trial, leading to guilty pleas.
Advocate for fair trial rights.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- public defense
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do defendants feel compelled to plead?
- What reforms can protect rights?
Pleas may be coerced despite innocence.