This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
No Contest Vs Guilty In Contra Costa
Category:
State:
Multi-State
County:
Contra Costa
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.
contest plea will result in a permanent criminal record for both types of offenses unless you successfully petition for expungement or an order of nondisclosure (sealing).
A no contest plea prevents the court from eliciting a defendant's admission of guilt, but the result of the defendant's plea not to contest the charges against him or her is the same as if the defendant had admitted guilt.
Both misdemeanor and felony convictions remain on your record indefinitely. A no-contest plea will result in a permanent criminal record for both types of offenses unless you successfully petition for expungement or an order of nondisclosure (sealing).
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.
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.
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.
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 American justice system is based on English common law. Nolo contendere, too, comes from this English legal foundation. This plea of “no contest” essentially worked the same way then that it does now: a defendant has the right to accept punishment without admitting guilt.
More info
Fill out this form if you wish to plead guilty or no contest to the charges against you. Initial the box for each applicable item only if you understand it.No contest, or nolo contendere, just means that you are saying you are not contesting, but also not admitting guilt. A guilty plea is a full admission of the facts supporting the charges. The main difference between a guilty or no contest plea is how it can be used if you're sued for a reason related to the traffic ticket. If you plea "guilty" or "no contest," then your criminal case comes to an end, and the judge will sentence you to whatever penalties he or she sees fit. Guilty: Admitting to the crime, which leads to sentencing. Not Guilty: Denying the crime, leading to a trial. The defendant can then respond with: Not guilty; Guilty; No contest. Showing Up for Arraignment in the East Bay.
