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Typically, it results in a guilty plea of a lesser crime (i.e. second degree murder rather than first). Some states see the Alford Plea invoked frequently, such as Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio however, the United States Military, along with Indiana and New Jersey forbid its use entirely.

To be more precise, an Alford plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who claims to be innocent. A no-contest (or nolo contendere ) plea is a plea by a defendant who accepts punishment but doesn't admit guilt. Both kinds of plea result in conviction.

To be more precise, an Alford plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who claims to be innocent. A no-contest (or nolo contendere ) plea is a plea by a defendant who accepts punishment but doesn't admit guilt. ... Despite claiming innocence, a typical Alford defendant considers the evidence too strong to go to trial.

Not all states permit the Alford plea, and the specific consequences vary among the states that do recognize it. But in general, an Alford plea allows law enforcement and prosecutors to close a case with a conviction, even if the real perpetrator has not been identified and caught.

Defendants usually enter an Alford guilty plea if they want to avoid a possible worse sentence were they to lose the case against them at trial. It affords defendants the ability to accept a plea bargain, while maintaining innocence.

Alford Plea Law and Legal Definition. In an Alford Plea, the criminal defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge. The court will pronounce the defendant guilty. The defendant may plead guilty yet not admit all the facts that comprise the crime.

To be more precise, an Alford plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who claims to be innocent. A no-contest (or nolo contendere ) plea is a plea by a defendant who accepts punishment but doesn't admit guilt. ... An Alford plea is similar to a no-contest plea, but there can be important distinctions between those two.

An Alford plea is a type of guilty plea where the criminal defendant does not actually admit to committing the crime. Rather the defendant maintains their innocence; but still chooses to plead guilty because the prosecution has significant evidence against them.

Alford was sentenced to 30 years in prison after the trial judge accepted the plea bargain and ruled that the defendant had been adequately advised by his defense lawyer.

The Consequences for Your Criminal Record A guilty or no-contest plea entered as a judge-approved plea bargain results in a criminal conviction; the defendant's guilt is established just as it would be after a trial.

Alford Plea Law and Legal Definition. In an Alford Plea, the criminal defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge. The court will pronounce the defendant guilty. The defendant may plead guilty yet not admit all the facts that comprise the crime.

The Alford guilty plea is "a plea of guilty containing a protestation of innocence". The defendant pleads guilty, but does not have to specifically admit to the guilt itself. ... Defendants usually enter an Alford guilty plea if they want to avoid a possible worse sentence were they to lose the case against them at trial.

If convicted of the crime, Alford would have suffered North Carolina's then default sentence of capital punishment. ... He was sentenced to thirty years in prison and appealed his case to federal court where he argued that he was coerced into the guilty plea to avoid death and requested a new trial.