NCJ Number
124467
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 48-63
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The widespread use of plea bargaining in the American justice system is a topic that has drawn criticism; cross-cultural comparisons addressing this issue have been rare.
Abstract
This article looks at the criminal court process in three countries -- the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark -- to determine the extent to which plea bargaining, in one form or another, takes place in these three different legal systems. Qualitative fieldwork conducted with courtroom personnel and quantitative analysis of actual criminal cases are combined in this research. The author concludes that the practice of plea bargaining is a universal concept in these three countries. 10 notes and 47 references (Author abstract)