The high conviction rates obtained in these and other courts are largely explicable in terms of the circumstances under which the defendants are apprehended and their behavior on apprehension. According to prosecution evidence, defendants are almost invariably either seen offending or seen to have offended. On apprehension, defendants confess to 85 percent of the charges against them. Some of the confessors and almost all of the nonconfessors plead not guilty. The success of their pleas depends largely on the basis for their defense and to whether they give evidence and are legally represented. Implications of these findings are discussed. Study data and two notes are supplied. (Author abstract modified)