title: Does evidence really matter? An exploratory analysis of the role of evidence in plea bargaining in felony drug cases.
abstract: The majority of cases in the United States are disposed of through plea bargaining; however, this important discretionary point has received relatively little attention from researchers compared with trial and jury proceedings, and other discretionary points such as arrest and sentencing. Additionally, although evidence is considered an important factor in determining case outcomes, its influence on prosecutors' decisions regarding plea offers is less clear. In this study, we examined the potential impact of evidentiary factors, as well as other legal and extralegal factors, on two plea bargaining decisions, plea-to-a-lesser-charge offers and sentence offers, using data on felony drug cases processed by the New York County District Attorney's office. We found that prosecutors made more punitive charge offers when they had audio/video evidence, eyewitness identification(s), prerecorded buy money used by an undercover officer in a buy-and-bust operation, or had recovered currency. Of all evidence factors analyzed, only the recovery of currency predicted sentence offers. By contrast, three other factors-defendants' detention status, the presence of multiple plea offers, and prior prison sentence-had a much greater impact on charge and sentence offers. Although additional research is needed, it is possible that evidence has a greater impact at the initial stages of a case, particularly on the decision about whether to accept a case for prosecution, than it does on subsequent prosecutorial decisions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for State and Local Governance, City University of New York.
authors.forename: Besiki L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kutateladze
authors.affiliation: Institute for State and Local Governance, City University of New York.
authors.forename: Victoria Z
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Probation.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Andiloro
mesh_terms: D003416:Criminal Law; D064423:Drug Trafficking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D017008:Negotiating; D009518:New York