Why Innocent People Plead Guilty (#286)

Lynn Thoman· Host0:00

[chime] We think of the justice system as a search for truth. Evidence presented, guilt or innocence decided, fair outcomes delivered. But the reality is often more complicated. Most cases never go to trial, and outcomes are shaped by incentives that have little to do with guilt or innocence. [music] So how does the justice system actually work? And why do so many innocent people plead guilty? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world, and maybe even ourselves, a little better. Today, I'm delighted to be here with Judge Jed Rakoff. He's a senior judge for the famed US District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is also a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. As a judge, former prosecutor, and former criminal defense attorney, he brings a very broad and unique perspective. I'm excited to find out why the innocent plead guilty and the guilty go free, which just so happens to be the title of his new