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Criminal justice systems across Europe are overburdened by heavy caseloads, court delays, and backlogs (Photo: bloomsberries)

Coerced into pleading guilty: the rise of trial-waivers in Europe

After Fiqiri was arrested for driving a vehicle without a licence, he was persuaded to plead guilty to avoid a potential jail sentence if the case went to court. "They didn't tell me anything, just left me in a cell for 72 hours. For no reason. They left me without work, my kids starving, no money for rent. The prosecutor said, "Come sign here." I did and that's it," explained Fiqiri.

The 'vehicle' in question was a tricycle that Fiqiri used to collect trash to sell. As it happens, ther...

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Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s, not those of EUobserver

Author Bio

Emmanuelle Debouverie is senior legal and policy officer at criminal justice watchdog NGO Fair Trials.

Criminal justice systems across Europe are overburdened by heavy caseloads, court delays, and backlogs (Photo: bloomsberries)

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Author Bio

Emmanuelle Debouverie is senior legal and policy officer at criminal justice watchdog NGO Fair Trials.

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