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

A plea bargain and a plea of nolo contendere are two types of pleas a defendant can make when charged with a white collar crime in Tennessee. A plea bargain is an agreement made between the defendant and the prosecuting attorney in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty to the crime in exchange for a lesser sentence than would have been imposed if the case had gone to trial. The plea bargain also allows the defendant to avoid a potentially long and costly trial. A plea of nolo contendere, commonly referred to as a “no contest” plea, is a legal plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but still agrees to accept a punishment. In the case of a white collar crime in Tennessee, a plea of nolo contendere gives the defendant the option of avoiding a trial and accepting responsibility for the crime without actually admitting guilt. The primary difference between a plea bargain and a plea of nolo contendere lies in the level of responsibility that the defendant is taking for the crime. With a plea bargain, the defendant is admitting guilt and agreeing to accept the sentence in exchange for avoiding a trial, while with a plea of nolo contendere, the defendant is not necessarily admitting guilt, but is instead accepting a sentence without admitting responsibility for the crime.

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

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