Felony Convictions In Juvenile Justice

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“In the year the ended June 30, 2008, little more than 1 percent of felony convictions in Virginia Courts were at the hands of jurors. Nearly 90 percent were the result of guilty pleas and the rest in trials before judges.”(paper1) Alleged criminals do not want to risk having to serve more time incarcerated than necessary. Throughout the years sentencing guidelines have been amended to produce tougher punishment. If a jury finds the defendant guilty they are not permitted to suspend any given sentence. They are given the guidelines of the minimum and maximum years and months the defendant can be incarcerated for; based on their past criminal history and current charges, and they are to sentence within that time frame. This hinders the defendant