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Poor, but not guilty
When high profile people—like Donald Trump—are charged with crimes, the public suddenly pays attention to the intense pressure that prosecutors can apply against defendants. If you’re well resourced, like Trump, you have a way to fight.
The poor, though, have to give in almost immediately and often unjustly. This article summarizes the issue well.
But if you are poor and cannot pay even a small bail amount, the situation is far grimmer. You lose your job. You’re evicted from your apartment. Your children are sent to foster care. You can’t see a doctor for your chronic health condition. You may be raped in jail. So you swallow your pride, take the deal, and admit to something regardless of whether you actually did it.
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