×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Alford Pleas: Prosecutors’ Choice for the Wrongfully Convicted
Loaded on Nov. 16, 2017
by David Reutter
published in Criminal Legal News
December, 2017, page 28
Filed under:
Guilty Pleas,
Prosecutors.
by David M. Reutter
When confronted with wrongful convictions, many prosecutors are forcing the exonerated on remand to make a Hobson’s choice: risk another trial or enter an Alford plea and go home. Faced with the uncertainties of a retrial and a desire to be free after years …
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Criminal Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- Absurd, Abusive, and Outrageous: The Creation of Crime and Criminals in America, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study’s Data Show Racial Disparity in Plea Bargaining Outcomes, by Derek Gilna
- Missouri Supreme Court Holds Probation Revocation for Nonpayment of Court Costs Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
- Evidence Scandal Leads to the Dismissal of over 140 Texas Criminal Cases, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Holds Supervised Release Revocation Sentence Unreasonable, by Christopher Zoukis
- Urban Institute Releases Report Detailing the Effects of Criminal Background Checks on Employment, by Derek Gilna
- California SVP Determination Based on Hearsay Evidence Reversed, by Mark Wilson
- Alford Pleas: Prosecutors’ Choice for the Wrongfully Convicted, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit: Warrantless Seizure of Handgun Not Permitted under Plain View Doctrine, by Mark Wilson
- News in Brief
- Oregon Supreme Court Rules No Vindictiveness in Resentencing Where Longer Term for Specific Conviction but Overall Multi-Conviction Sentence Shorter, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit: Violent Cop’s Below-Guideline Sentence Not Justified, Again, by Mark Wilson
- Unloaded Firearm in Zipped Case Is Not “Deadly Weapon” under Oregon’s First-Degree Burglary Statute, by Mark Wilson
- D.C. Court of Appeals Rules Warrantless Use of Stingray Device Constitutes Unlawful Search and Reverses Defendant’s Convictions, by Richard Resch
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Defendants Voluntarily Consented to Search in Police Ruse to Search Home Purportedly to Investigate Burglary, by David Reutter
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules State Sex Offender Registration Law Violates Ex Post Facto Clause, by David Reutter
- Georgia Supreme Court Rules Flipping the Bird Is Not Disorderly Conduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- New Study: “Broken Windows” Policing May Not Be as Effective as Thought, by Christopher Zoukis
- California Felonizes Some Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Concludes Mandatory Supervision Akin to Parole for Fourth Amendment Analysis, by Mark Wilson
- Proof of Law Enforcement Duty Is Primary Job to Establish Peace Officer Status, by David Reutter
- Oregon Enacts Law Requiring Grand Jury Testimony to Be Recorded—Finally!, by Mark Wilson
- Georgia Supreme Court Tosses DUI Conviction Based on Officer’s Testimony of Impairment, by Christopher Zoukis
- Third Circuit Holds Habeas Petitioner’s Claim Based on Prosecutor Knowingly Using Perjured Testimony Not Subject to Brecht “Actual Prejudice” Standard, by Richard Resch
- Nevada Supreme Court: Mistrial Due to Egregious and Improper Conduct by Prosecutor Bars Retrial, by Christopher Zoukis
- Several States Bar Landlords from Automatically Denying Housing to Felons
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2016–17, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
- Fourth Circuit Holds North Carolina Sex Offender Restrictions Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Criminal Trespass Is a Lesser Included Offense of Burglary, by Christopher Zoukis
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Unlawful Sexual Contact Is a Lesser Included Offense of Sexual Assault, by Christopher Zoukis
- Kentucky Court Rules Death Penalty Statute Applied to Defendant under 21 Years Old Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Missouri Bill Increases Mandatory Minimums, Expands Prosecutors’ Role in Juvenile Court, July 1, 2026. Cost of Prison Systems, Prosecutors, State Legislation, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders, Mandatory Minimum Sentence.
- Hawai’i Supreme Court Reverses Murder Conviction for Prosecutorial Misconduct Based on Prosecution’s Improper Statements During Closing Arguments, Feb. 15, 2025. Prosecutors, Wrongful Conviction, Prior Convictions - Expungement or Reversal of, Improper Comment.
- Reform-Minded Prosecutors Face Backlash for Prosecuting Bad Cops, June 15, 2024. Police Misconduct, Government Misconduct, Prosecutor/Attorney General Misconduct, Prosecutors, Police/Govt Misconduct, Criticism of Government.
- Natural Language Processing Software Can Identify Biased Jury Selection, Has Potential to Be Used in Real Time During Voir Dire, Dec. 15, 2023. Racial Discrimination, Commentary/Reviews, Prosecutors, Batson Claims.
- NY Court of Appeals: Right to Review Suppression Decision When Decision Relates Solely to a Count Satisfied by Plea but Isn’t Count to Which Defendant Pled, June 15, 2020. Guilty Pleas, Suppression of Evidence, Motions To Suppress.
- Hawaii Lawmakers Propose Transparency from Prosecutors, April 15, 2020. Racial Discrimination, Prosecutors, Plea Bargaining.
- NYC Drug Prosecutor Bucks Trend of Releasing List of Cops with Credibility Issues, March 18, 2020. Police Misconduct, Prosecutors, Police.
- Jury Nullification as a Cure for Prosecutorial Overreach, March 18, 2020. Prosecutors.
- Reform-Minded Prosecutors Use Charging Discretion to Benefit Communities, March 18, 2020. Criminal justice system reform, Prosecutors.
- DA’s Office Files Bar Complaint on Its Own Former Prosecutor, Feb. 19, 2020. Prosecutors, District Attorneys.
