What is the difference between admit plea and no contest

In many cases, criminal penalties are not the only legal consequences that you can face as a result of an incident. You may also face a civil lawsuit if someone was hurt by what allegedly occurred. When you plead guilty in some criminal cases, it is automatically used against you in a civil case. The admission of guilt is on the record and can transfer to another court.

However, pleading no contest, while it has the same effect as a guilty plea, means that there is no admission of guilt. This means that there is nothing to use against you in a civil case. The plaintiff, in that case, would still need to prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence.

If the plaintiff tries to introduce a no-contest plea into evidence, it will be excluded from the trial. There are reasons on both sides for why a defendant would want to plead guilty or no contest.

For both, you would get a chance to address the court before sentencing. However, pleading guilty could also be seen by a judge as an admission of responsibility that they may take into consideration when it comes time for sentencing.

Further, the prosecutor could also insist on a guilty plea as part of a deal because they want the defendant to actually admit to the offense. Not everyone has the option of pleading no contest in their case. The court may choose not to accept a no-contest plea, whereas they have an obligation to allow a guilty plea.

Most people who plead no contest will do so as a result of a plea bargain. Otherwise, it would make little sense to waive your right to fight the charges and put your fate in the hands of the judge. Usually, you do not end up choosing between a guilty plea and no contest. However, this could be a matter of negotiation in plea discussions, especially the offense may also result in a civil lawsuit.

Your criminal defense attorney will discuss your legal options when advising you. If you have been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, you need legal help immediately because your legal rights are at risk. Contact an Appleton criminal defense lawyer at Hogan Eickhoff online or call us today at to schedule your free initial consultation. When you are in the criminal justice system, having an experienced attorney to counsel you is a must as you decide how you want to deal with the charges.

Call Now. Free Consultation. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Settings Accept All. Manage consent. When entering a plea with the Court on a traffic citation, you have three choices to make; guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The Judge only wants to hear one of them.

The Judge sets a trial date and moves on to the next case. If you do this, you are agreeing with what you have been charged with and making an admission that you did what was alleged on the citation.

The Judge will accept your guilty plea and access a fine associated with the charge. This is a time to ask for no traffic school or an amendment to a non-moving violation. Pleading no contest or nolo contendere means you admit no guilt for the crime, but the court can determine the punishment. Through this conversation, the judge gains a better perspective on the situation. The defendant has some possibility of getting a less harsh sentence than might be handed down after a jury trial.

Restrictions on pleading no contest vary between states, and in some jurisdictions it is prohibited. It is unlikely that the court will allow you to enter a nolo contendere plea while vigorously denying your guilt to the media.