The passage tells us in paragraph 2 that information from cooperating witnesses is usually provided in exchange for a reduced sentence or another incentive. This means that there is an incentive for cooperating witnesses to provide false testimony in return for e.g. a reduced sentence.
We also learn that a recent study found that these witnesses are rarely prosecuted if they lie. Therefore, they have much to gain and little to lose if they provide false testimony.
Overall, these facts suggest that the courts' frequent reliance on cooperating witnesses' testimony can result in convictions based on false testimony as there is much to be gained and little to lose if they provide false testimony.
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