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

A plea of guilty is an admission of guilt to a court, while a plea of nolo contendere means you do not contest the facts of a case. In Oregon, a plea of guilty is a formal declaration to the court that the defendant admits the commission of the act they are accused of having committed. This typically results in the court entering a conviction against the defendant. A plea of nolo contendere is a way of avoiding a trial and admitting responsibility, but without the defendant admitting guilt. When a defendant pleads nolo contendere, they are not admitting that they committed the crime, but they are admitting that the facts of the case are true and the prosecution has enough evidence to convict them. In Oregon, when this plea is accepted, the court can enter a conviction, usually with a lighter sentence than would have been imposed after a guilty plea. It is important to note that a nolo contendere plea may still be used against the defendant in a later civil lawsuit.

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

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