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.

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

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