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

A plea of guilty and a guilty plea are two different things in the North Carolina criminal justice system. A plea of guilty is essentially an admission of guilt in a criminal matter. A person charged with a crime can plead guilty at their arraignment or at any other point in the criminal proceedings. When a person pleads guilty, the court will enter a conviction and a sentence will usually be imposed. A guilty plea, on the other hand, is an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor in a criminal case. It involves the defendant agreeing to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for a lesser sentence than they would have received if they had been found guilty at trial. A guilty plea usually involves the defendant agreeing to a plea bargain which could include reduced charges, a suspended sentence, or probation. In summary, a plea of guilty is an admission of guilt whereas a guilty plea is an agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant in exchange for a sentence that is less than what would have been imposed had the case gone to trial. Both can result in a conviction and a sentence, but a guilty plea is usually more beneficial to the defendant than a plea of guilty.

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

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