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Definition of "guilty plea" An admission made verbally or in writing affirming the commitment of a specified crime. How to use "guilty plea" in a sentence. The case ended quickly after the accused made a guilty plea. He hoped his guilty plea would lead to a reduced sentence. Unable to bear the weight of his actions, he entered a guilty plea.
When a person is charged with a crime, they must answer to that charge in court during an arraignment. This formal answer is called a plea. A defendant can either admit to the charges by pleading guilty or deny the charges by pleading not guilty.
- The Blind Plea
- The No Contest Plea
- The Alford Plea
- The Guilty Plea
- The Bottom Line
A blind plea occurs when you choose to enter a guilty plea without accepting the recommendation from the State. This means if the prosecutor is offering you a plea deal of 1 year of probation and you believe you can get a better deal than that from the judge, you can enter a blind plea. When entering a blind plea, you plead guilty to the judge with...
A no contest plea is similar to a guilty plea, with a few minor distinctions. When you choose to enter a plea of no contest you are accepting the offer from the State in its entirety. The terms of your plea (e.g. jail time, etc) do not change whether you choose to plead guilty or no contest. Additionally, it does not affect enhancement of predicate...
An Alford plea is very unusual, and very rarely seen in criminal law today. An Alford plea is when you enter a plea to the State’s recommendation as if you are guilty, but maintain your innocence. Unlike with a no contest plea, you are not merely acknowledging that the state can prove you guilty, you are asserting that you are entirely innocent. Ma...
This is the most common type of plea in a criminal case. Normally if you enter a plea, this is the plea you are entering. While your requirements on probation or your length of jail time will not differ regardless of what plea you choose to enter, this is the only type of plea that will guarantee you the plea deal the prosecutor offered.
If you like the offer from the prosecutor, but don't feel comfortable entering a guilty plea, you do have options to enter a plea without admitting guilt. Conversely, if you are wanting to enter a plea, but don't like the plea offer from the prosecutor, you can enter a blind plea and be sentenced by the judge.
Before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court must address the defendant personally in open court and determine that the plea is voluntary and did not result from force, threats, or promises (other than promises in a plea agreement). (3) Determining the Factual Basis for a Plea.
Discover the Legal Definition of Plea: Find Out How to Respond to Criminal Accusations Ensure that you make informed decisions when facing criminal charges by understanding the crucial concept of a plea. Explore examples of pleas, such as not guilty, guilty, no contest, and Alford plea, to navigate the legal system with confidence.
May 3, 2024 · 7 min read. A plea hearing is a court proceeding during which the justice system gives an individual (defendant) a chance to respond to the charges against them. During the plea hearing, the defendant makes a statement (plea) declaring their guilt or innocence either in the form of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere (no contest).
Dec 7, 2023 · The response must be one of the following: a plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere, which means no contest. In reality, there may be more than one plea hearing in your case. When a plea hearing takes place can depend on whether you are in state or federal court.
