1) I don't think anyone can give a true answer unless they are actually in the situation.

2) I would think it would depend on outside forces. Say you are accused of killing a 5 year old girl. Now you are given the chance to apologize and stay in prison your whole life. But your family starts receiving death threats, or your wife is attacked or threatened, all of these things happening to your family. I would think the outside influnces would be MORE than principles.