Bonnie and Clyde have just been taken into police custody, having been apprehended at the scene of a burglary. They were separated immediately upon being arrested and haven’t seen one another since. You are Bonnie, and are sitting across from the police prosecutor. He says, “well Bonnie, things aren’t looking good for you. Found at the scene of the crime with that old villain Clyde! We ought to put you straight behind bars and throw away the key. But I’m a kindly soul, see? So I’m going to offer you the following choice: confess, or keep silent. If you confess, and if old Clyde does too, I’ll ask the judge to give you 5 years in prison. If you confess, but Clyde keeps silent, I’ll take a few years off – just 1 year behind bars in that case. If, on the other hand, you keep silent and Clyde confesses, you’ll get 10 years. And if you keep silent and Clyde does too, you’ll get 2.”
Suppose you’re certain that the judge will agree to whatever sentence the prosecutor asks them to impose on you. What should you do: keep silent, or confess?
| Clyde | |||
| Confess | Keep Silent | ||
| Bonnie | Confess | 5 years | 1 year |
| Keep Silent | 10 years | 2 years |
Lachlan Umbers 