Anyone accused of a crime will have the chance to enter a plea. The choice of what plea to enter is entirely up to the defendant. Many of those arrested feel that a no-contest plea is the plea that best benefits them. The plea issue can lead to a lot of confusion, so read on and learn more about pleas and about the most-confusing plea, the no-contest plea.
The Arraignment and the Plea
After an arrest, your first time seeing a judge is at the arraignment. Often held hours (or a day or so) after the arrest, this meeting is brief and to the point. You and dozens of others are arraigned as one by one you stand and are questioned by the judge. Four main actions occur at the arraignment:
- You are informed of your charges.
- You are informed about bail.
- You are asked about legal representation.
- You are asked to enter a plea.
The Three Plea Choices
Almost all defendants plead not guilty at the arraignment and this is highly advisable. You can change your plea after you've had the opportunity to speak to a criminal defense lawyer. This is an initial plea, so don't stress out about it and just plead "not guilty your honor". The other choices, by the way, are either guilty or no contest. Pleading guilty at the arraignment is a bad choice in almost all cases.
Understanding Final Pleas
Later, as your lawyer evaluates your case and the evidence against you, an opportunity to change your plea might arise. Very few cases come to trial anymore. Most cases are resolved using a plea bargain. This is an agreement to enter a plea and be sentenced without a trial. In many cases, plea bargains are advantageous to defendants – but not always. If your plea ends up being no contest (or nolo contendere), it means you are going along with whatever the judge decides. You are not putting up a defense and you are not saying you are innocent either. As far as sentencing goes, admitting to guilt and accepting a plea deal might be better in some cases. On the other hand, some attorneys might advise a client to plead no contest depending on the charges, the punishment, your record, the judge, and more.
As you can see, your plea needs to be discussed and worked out with your defense attorney. Speak to your lawyer about pleas and plea deals today.
