Plea deals, charge stacking and consecutive sentencing can result in long prison sentences, straining the bonds of families burdened by the incarceration of a loved one.
We spoke to attorneys, law professors, advocates and incarcerated people about charge stacking and plea deals and the effect they have on the criminal justice system.
At 17, Terence Smith faced two charges for his role in an armed robbery. After turning down a plea deal, he stood charged with five more crimes and was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.