A Killer's Plea: Gary ridgway, An Example of the Plea Bargain's Importance in the Justice System

by C.L. Vaughn

Plea Bargaining has been the focus of debates across the nation since the early 1800's. With our courts overflowing and over 90% of defendants pleaing guilty or "no contest" to avoid stiffer punishments, our courts have become dependant on them.

This essay uses the case of one of Americas most talked about serial killers, Gary Ridgway, also know as the Green River Killer. For over 20 years the King County Sheriff's Department raced for the killer's identity, and when the dust settled the only way the investigators could solve over48 of the victim's murders was to use the Plea Bargain.

6 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2008