Guilty Quote by Michelle Alexander
“Thousands of people plead guilty to crimes every year in the United States because they know that the odds of a jury's believing their word over a police officer's are slim to none.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Jim Crow, 2010
The justice system often favors police testimony over jurors, leading many guilty pleas despite innocence.
In simple terms: Legal bias can coerce false confessions.
Be aware of systemic inequities in courts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- courtroom testimony
- public defender strategy
- policy reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can jurors be better educated on bias?
- What reforms could balance testimony credibility?
Jury decisions are still influenced by evidence quality, not just bias.