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No Contest Vs Guilty In Oakland
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State:
Multi-State
County:
Oakland
Control #:
US-0018LTR
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Word;
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FAQ
Both an Alford plea and a no contest plea are the functional equivalents of a guilty plea. A defendant who enters an Alford plea pleads guilty but claims to be innocent. With a no contest plea, a defendant accepts punishment but doesn't admit guilt. Both kinds of plea result in convictions.
``No contest'' means you are not admitting guilt, but are accepting there is sufficient evidence to convict you. ``Guilty'' means you are admitting guilt. Either way, the court will sentence you for the crime.
A plea of nolo contendre (latin for “I am unwilling to contest”) is a plea recognized in US law, but does not have any foundation in Canadian criminal law. It is prohibited by virtue of s. 606(1) which lists all valid pleas. A guilty plea that in substance amounts to a plea of nolo contendre will be invalid.
If you might face a civil case related to your alleged crime, a no-contest plea can help you avoid giving the plaintiff a powerful piece of evidence. On the other hand, a guilty plea might get you a better deal from the prosecution, but it's essential to weigh the potential for a civil lawsuit.
However, the likelihood of your case going to trial is slim, as only “2% to 5% of criminal matters proceed to trial.” You might be surprised to learn, then, that the Canadian criminal justice system resolves the vast majority of criminal cases through plea bargain negotiations.
If you plead "nolo contendere" (no contest) you stated that while you do not wish to plead guilty you agree that the prosecutor has sufficient evidence that the court would find you guilty. This is considered the same as pleading guilty as far as the conviction is concerned.
``No contest'' means you are not admitting guilt, but are accepting there is sufficient evidence to convict you. ``Guilty'' means you are admitting guilt. Either way, the court will sentence you for the crime.
No contest is the same as a guilty plea, period. It just can't be used against you in civil case.
If you plead "nolo contendere" (no contest) you stated that while you do not wish to plead guilty you agree that the prosecutor has sufficient evidence that the court would find you guilty. This is considered the same as pleading guilty as far as the conviction is concerned.
