What is the difference between a plea of guilty and a plea of nolo contendere?

A plea of guilty and a plea of nolo contendere are both often offered in North Carolina drug crime cases. A plea of guilty is an admission of guilt, and the defendant in a criminal case is typically facing a conviction after entering a plea of guilty. A plea of nolo contendere (Latin for “I do not wish to contend”) is different. It is an admission to the charge, but the defendant does not admit guilt. Furthermore, the defendant is not considered guilty or convicted of the offense. There is a distinction between admitting the charge and pleading guilty to the charge. So in a plea of nolo contendere, the defendant is admitting the charge but not necessarily admitting to guilt. This can sometimes be beneficial for a defendant in a drug crime case who does not want to admit guilt, but still wants to take responsibility for their actions. A plea of nolo contendere can also help the defendant by reducing the potential penalties associated with the offense.

Related FAQs

What is the difference between a plea of not guilty and a plea of nolo contendere?
What is drug diversion?
What are the elements of an entrapment defense?
What are the effects of drug abuse?
What are the different drug laws?
What are the laws for manufacturing a controlled substance?
What is a drug-free workplace?
What is the difference between an unlawful search and a warrant?
What is the difference between a drug and a pharmaceutical?
How do prior convictions affect sentencing in drug crimes?

What is the difference between a plea of guilty and a plea of nolo contendere?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts