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

Plea bargains and pleas of nolo contendere (or "no contest") are two common methods of resolving criminal charges in South Carolina. The main difference between these two pleas is that a plea bargain requires a defendant to plead guilty to a criminal charge in exchange for a lesser penalty or even the dismissal of the charge altogether. A plea of nolo contendere, on the other hand, is a plea where a defendant does not admit guilt, but still agrees to accept the penalty without admitting responsibility for the alleged crime. A plea bargain is often offered by a prosecutor in order to avoid a trial or to obtain a conviction for a lesser offense than the original one. In essence, this plea allows the defendant to “trade” a guilty plea for a reduced sentence or an outright dismissal of the charges. This type of plea can be beneficial to the defendant in that it can limit their time in jail, allow them to avoid a more serious criminal conviction, or even result in their case being dismissed altogether. Meanwhile, a plea of nolo contendere is a form of plea in which the defendant neither admits nor denies guilt, but rather agrees to accept the punishment set forth by the court without admitting to the alleged crime. This plea is typically used in cases involving white-collar crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, where the defendant wants to avoid the stigma of a guilty plea. However, the judge may still enter a judgment of conviction against the defendant, which could be used in future proceedings.

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

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