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

A plea of guilty is an admission of guilt by the defendant in a criminal case. By pleading guilty, the defendant agrees to accept the punishment given by the court for the crime they are accused of committing. This plea is typically used when the defendant wants to avoid a trial and accept the consequences. A plea of nolo contendere is a plea of “no contest.” This plea is rarely used in Texas drug crime cases due to its effects on future criminal proceedings. When someone pleads no contest, it means that they are neither admitting guilt nor denying the crime but are instead taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. The difference between a plea of guilty and a plea of nolo contendere is that a guilty plea is an admission of guilt while a nolo contendere is a refusal to admit guilt but acceptance of responsibility. A plea of guilty allows the state to prosecute the defendant and enter the plea into evidence. A plea of nolo contendere does not allow the state to use the plea as evidence against the defendant in any future criminal proceedings.

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

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