This article assesses the extent to which current guilty plea procedure is consistent with legitimations of criminal convictions, with a focus on decision making in child defendants. I argue that in the context of plea decisions in children, the criminal justice system must ensure that defendants make decisions that result in accurate convictions that are reached in a fair way that respects rights. The current system does not do this due to an almost exclusive focus on autonomy. This focus is likely to be leading to illegitimate convictions, most importantly children pleading guilty when innocent. Drawing on psychological theory, I develop a model of guilty plea decision making and draw on this model to identify relevant vulnerabilities of child defendants. Based on this analysis, I identify ways in which current procedure in England and Wales may be leading to systematic problems with the legitimacy of convictions of children, and suggest reforms to enhance such legitimacy. These reform suggestions focus on England and Wales but have implications for plea systems around the world.

中文翻译：

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儿童有罪认罪：合法性，脆弱性和加强保护的必要性

本文评估了当前的有罪认罪程序在多大程度上与刑事定罪的合法性相符，并着重于儿童被告的决策。我认为，在儿童的辩诉决定的背景下，刑事司法系统必须确保被告做出的决定能够导致对他们的正确定罪，并以尊重权利的公正方式达成。由于几乎完全专注于自治，因此当前系统无法执行此操作。这种关注可能会导致非法定罪，最重要的是，儿童无辜时会认罪。借鉴心理学理论，我开发了认罪认罪决策模型，并利用该模型来确定儿童被告的相关脆弱性。根据此分析，我确定了英格兰和威尔士目前的程序可能导致儿童定罪合法性方面的系统性问题的方式，并建议进行改革以增强这种合法性。这些改革建议的重点是英格兰和威尔士，但对全世界的辩诉制度有影响。