This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
Pleading No Contest Vs Guilty In Wake
Category:
State:
Multi-State
County:
Wake
Control #:
US-0018LTR
Format:
Word;
Rich Text
Instant download
Description
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FAQ
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.
You may be able to enter into a favorable plea agreement with the prosecutor if you agree to plead guilty. They may drop the charges to a less serious offense or agree to reduce your sentence. This can be extremely beneficial, especially if you face a jail or prison sentence.
Pleading not guilty provides you with the opportunity to fully explore all possible defenses and legal strategies. This ensures that justice is served in the most equitable manner possible, taking into account all relevant factors and circumstances.
If it's clear that you are going to be found guilty anyway because the evidence is against you, pleading guilty early will get you a better deal when you are sentenced - eg, less time in prison, or a lesser fine.
The fear of a potentially harsher sentence if found guilty at trial can lead some people to plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit. Additionally, factors like pressure from law enforcement, lack of resources to mount a defense, or misunderstanding of legal rights can also contribute to false guilty pleas.
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.
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.
More info
When you plead no contest to charges, you are essentially doing the same thing as admitting guilt in the case. A nocontest plea doesn't involve an admission of guilt.Instead, you're saying you won't contest the charges against you. It means that you aren't contesting the charges against you. The results are usually the same as a guilty plea. In the context of criminal law, this makes no difference. What is the difference between a plea of not guilty, guilty, and no contest? A no contest plea is similar to a guilty plea. When you plead no contest, you technically admit that you are guilty of the crime being charged. Pleading "no contest" to a criminal charge means you do not admit fault.
