Pennsylvania Guilty Plea Colloquy is a set of questions that must be answered by a defendant in court to determine the validity of a guilty plea. This colloquy is designed to ensure the defendant understands the nature of the charges against him/her and the consequences of pleading guilty. It is conducted by a judge in open court to confirm that the accused has voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently decided to plead guilty to the charges. Pennsylvania Guilty Plea Colloquy includes questions about the accused's understanding of the charges, the rights they are giving up by pleading guilty, and the consequences of their plea. There are two types of Pennsylvania Guilty Plea Colloquy: an Open Guilty Plea and a Negotiated Guilty Plea. An Open Guilty Plea is when the defendant pleads guilty and the court then determines the sentence. With a Negotiated Guilty Plea, the accused pleads guilty in exchange for a sentence that was agreed upon ahead of time between the prosecution and the defense.