Similarly, if you are charged with murder, the jury decides whether you are guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, or nothing at all. At least, that is the traditional approach. Why the Government dislikes jury trials Government finds the right to jury trial to be the most chafing, irritating thing that confronts them. Not only do jurors slow things down, but there is always the chance they will not vote the way the Government wants. Another problem with the jury trial, as the Government sees it, is that with a jury trial you have to call witnesses, and subject them to cross-examination.
Witnesses are highly inconvenient for a number of reasons.
First, Government officials often have to bribe them with reduced charges. Second, many witnesses, being not as bright as lawyers, might not remember all the details of their stories the way the Government agents have told it to them. Third, some witnesses might change their mind in a courtroom. Fourth, witnesses subjected to cross-examination by the other side might unwittingly reveal that some of their testimony is false. So, to avoid that, they try you for drugs, or conspiracy to be involved with drugs.