“At least 95 percent of all cases are settled by plea negotiations,” Keene defense lawyer Paul G. Schweizer said. “Plea bargains are absolutely essential to the judicial system.”
Without plea deals, the courts, jails and prisons would become clogged with defendants and inmates.
“As a practical matter, we would have to build 10 new courthouses in Keene if we took everyone to trial,” he said. “We would have to hire five times as many police officers and prosecutors. The judicial system would come to a screeching halt.”
Please take a moment and think about that quote. It reveals an Achilles’s heel of the state. Their system is counting on you to go with the flow.
“Just take the plea, pay up, and we’ll make this go away.”, say the government aggressors. Naturally, people eagerly take the “deal”. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to minimize the harm that the state is inflicting upon them and their loved ones.
However, I’d like to encourage them take a longer view. (more…)
Thanks to the Nashua Telegraph’s Joseph Cote for this story:
Activists were at it again Tuesday, protesting marijuana laws on Library Hill and later at the Nashua Police Department following one arrest.
Organizer Kelly McGuire said she was committed to continuing daily protests, which over the weekend included some protesters smoking joints and from bowls in the downtown park.
About six protesters held signs at the park at the top of Main Street, according to Nashua police Sgt. Denis Linehan. A handful of police were in the area to keep an eye on the protesters, including plainclothes officers among the group.
Linehan said police knew the protest was planned because it was advertised online. The man whom police arrested allegedly gave a joint to one of the plainclothes officers at the park and was charged with distribution of a controlled substance, Linehan said.
McGuire said police refused to identify themselves and didn’t give a reason for arresting the man.
“As far as I know, they came in and arrested him without cause,” McGuire, of Nashua, said. “They wouldn’t identify themselves.” (more…)
Obscured Truth Network’s coverage of the mass arrests that took place at the Nashua 420 celebration over Liberty Forum Weekend.
During a peaceful 420 celebration in Nashua, a young local man was targeted for arrest by undercover police. This was followed by the arrests of two activists who fell victim to a gross overreaction on behalf of the Nashua Police. All three were released a few hours later, and arraignment dates have been posted on the Free Keene Forum. Curtis, who attended the Nashua 420 on Saturday, despite a recent back injury which had restricted him to a wheelchair, was arrested on Tuesday during another Nashua 420 celebration. He is currently still being held in jail. Check back to FreeKeene for updates on Curtis’ status.
