Judy Woodruff:

It turns out that trials are increasingly rare in today's broken justice system. About 95 percent of all felony cases end with guilty pleas.

Defendants more often than in the past accept deals to avoid risking more serious charges and penalties at a trial, even if they didn't commit the crime.

As John Yang reports, plea bargains can have long-lasting consequences.

This story was produced by students at the University of Maryland's Capital News Service, in collaboration with Injustice Watch of Chicago.