By: Joel Stephen Mattson

There’s a reason the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world—and it’s not just about crime. It’s about jurisdictional fraud, hidden consent, and a silent legal presumption that traps millions of people without them even realizing it.

The foundation of nearly every conviction in America is this one false premise: you consented to the court’s authority.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

• Over 2 million people are locked in U.S. jails and prisons
• Over 80% of federal cases are handled by magistrates
• The majority of cases never go to trial
• Almost all are resolved through plea bargains or uncontested rulings

That means the system depends entirely on one thing: you don’t object.

The Consent Presumption — A Legal Fiction

Courts presume that you:

• Know what kind of court you’re in
• Understand who the judge really is
• Realize that it’s not a constitutional proceeding
• And accept that you’ve waived all rights by participating

But in reality, most people:

• Don’t know the difference between Article I and Article III courts
• Are never told they have the right to refuse a magistrate judge
• Think that silence or appearance is mandatory compliance

It’s a trap by design.

Administrative Courts Are Not Courts of Justice

Article I tribunals—including magistrate courts, tax courts, and others—are not courts of law. They are courts of policy and procedure, acting under legislative authority, not judicial power.

There’s only one way they gain real jurisdiction over a living man or woman: you give it to them.

(See: Fraud By Omission: How Courts Violate the Constitution by Withholding Truth About Consent)

Plea Deals and Prison Time: Manufactured Through Deception

The reason most cases never go to trial is simple: once you’re in the system, the pressure to comply is overwhelming. Prosecutors offer deals. Defenders urge you to plead. Courts push for resolution.

But every part of that process depends on consent:

• You agreed to appear
• You didn’t challenge jurisdiction
• You didn’t withdraw consent to a magistrate
• You signed a plea deal

Once those boxes are checked, you’ve locked yourself into a system that never had the right to judge you in the first place.

This Is Not Justice — It’s Contractual Entrapment

Under the Constitution:

• No one can be deprived of liberty without due process
• Jurisdiction must be proven, not assumed
• Consent must be voluntary and informed

But administrative courts bypass all of that using color of law, color of authority, and silence as a stand-in for consent.

It’s not a trial—it’s a corporate negotiation. And the penalty is your life.

Millions Are Imprisoned on a Lie

If every person had been told:

• You don’t have to consent
• You have the right to an Article III judge
• The court must prove its jurisdiction

…most would never have agreed to plead or comply.

This single deception—the concealment of your right to refuse—has led to a level of incarceration unmatched anywhere in the world.

Final Thought: Withdraw Consent, Collapse the System

The only reason this system survives is because people never challenge it. But once you understand that consent is the linchpin, you realize something powerful:

If consent creates jurisdiction… Then withdrawing consent destroys it.

Millions are suffering today because they never knew. Now you do.

Spread the truth. Teach others. And never walk blindly into a courtroom again.

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Next Article in the Series: How to Withdraw Consent and Demand a Constitutional Court

Back to Consent Trap Series Overview: Consent Trap Landing Page