Defense lawyers think a new plea bargaining policy is overwhelming the court system and disincentivizing plea deals. The county's top prosecutor says the rise is in part due to the pandemic.
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.