>>211530142>turning yourself in generally leads to a much lighter sentencingNot at all.
In fact, turning yourself in is a guaranteed way for HIGHER sentence, unless you can afford a top quality lawyer and have some kind of golden-tier alibi.
Turning yourself in means you admit to the crime, has to fill in a report dictated by a cop (who wants to get it over with) and getting you screwed entirely of anything, including DECREASING chances of parole.
Pretty much the moment you sign your name on ANY paperwork that wasn't first checked by your attorney (even a court-appointed one), you are fucked.
There is, however, a reason why this lie is perpetuated so hard by all media. It makes life of the law enforcement and courts soooooo much fucking easier, because you effectively give up any meaningful defense you could have. And it's absolutely fucking disastrous in cases where you weren't acting in a deliberate way, since turning yourself in usually ends up being then worked into you admitting you did that on purpose, rather than accident.
Turning yourself in, right next to negotiating anything with anyone at all during a hostage situation, are two of the worst things you can do in any sort of scenario involving police and/or trial. You are making already bad situation unwinnable.