No Contest Vs Guilty In Hillsborough
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Not Guilty You can later decide to change your plea to guilty or no contest if you wish. If you plead not guilty you will have a pretrial conference to try to settle your case. There is no penalty for pleading not guilty. Your sentence will not be more severe or less severe based merely on how you plead.
No contest pleas are sometimes called nolo contendere pleas. The main advantage of no contest pleas is that they cannot be used against the defendant in a related civil case as an admission of liability.
contest plea will result in a permanent criminal record for both types of offenses unless you successfully petition for expungement or an order of nondisclosure (sealing).
Avoid potential risks of trial: By pleading no contest, the defendant avoids the uncertainties and risks of going to trial, such as unpredictable jury decisions and potentially harsher penalties.
The defendant could be found guilty in a criminal court but can avoid civil liability for the acts of which he is accused.
Pleading guilty means you admit that you committed the crime. Pleading no contest (“nolo contendere”) means accepting the conviction but avoiding a factual admission of guilt.
A defendant may, however, also enter a plea of nolo contendere or “no contest.” Such pleas are permitted under Florida law, provided the trial judge agrees to accept it.
contest plea will result in a permanent criminal record for both types of offenses unless you successfully petition for expungement or an order of nondisclosure (sealing).
You admit to the allegation. No contest means that you do not admit to actually committing the allegation, you merely admit that the State can produce sufficient evidence for you to be found guilty. In general, no contest is the better way to go, but it probably wouldn't make much difference in your situation.
A no contest plea means just what it says: The defendant has decided not to contest the state's charges against them. While this is not the same as pleading “guilty,” it essentially has the same effect. The trial court will enter a judgment against the defendant and impose a sentence.
