Pleading No Contest Vs Guilty In Suffolk
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Sometimes people plead not guilty if there's a flaw in the evidence against them, or if there's a valid legal defense they wish to employ. Some may also want to test the evidence against them.
By maintaining a not guilty plea, you retain the leverage needed to negotiate a more favorable plea agreement. This could result in lesser charges, reduced sentences, or alternative sentencing options that might not be available if you initially plead guilty.
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.
Some people worry that if they plead “not guilty,” when they feel they are really guilty, that it could hurt them later. Please do not worry.
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 Admission of Guilt: The lack of an admission of guilt allows the defendant to maintain a certain level of denial regarding the crime in other legal or personal contexts, which can be crucial for their reputation.
The prosecutor may offer a deal for a reduced sentence or no jail time if you agree to plead guilty. As part of plea deals, you cannot go back and fight the charges, because you already pleaded guilty. Before accepting a plea bargain, understand your rights to make sure you know what you're giving up.
By maintaining a not guilty plea, you retain the leverage needed to negotiate a more favorable plea agreement. This could result in lesser charges, reduced sentences, or alternative sentencing options that might not be available if you initially plead guilty.
Always plead not guilty. If you plead guilty you are asking for points/higher fines. Never do that. You will receive a summons to traffic court and your driving abstract will be reviewed.
