Is a Guilty or No Contest Plea Better?
Full Question:
Answer:
A no contest plea has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
A nolo contendre plea in a criminal case may not be used against the same person in a civil suit based on the same facts. Therefore, if you were sued later in civil court for damages, it would not be used as an admission of guilt. However, it may be required to be disclosed on certain applications, such as an employment or insurance application. Both a gulty plea and no contest plea may appear on your record as a conviction. If it was accidental and no criminal intent was involved, a not guilty plea may be made.
Unless there is a very good reason to do otherwise, a plea at arraignment is typically recommended to be “not guilty”. Even if a defendant feels he is guilty, he should still plead not guilty until after an opportunity to consult with a lawyer or think it over. A guilty plea can always be entered later. A defendant has the right at almost any time to change his or her plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.” It is not usually possible, however, to change from a guilty plea to a not guilty plea. Once a guilty plea is entered, it usually is permanent. Usually, to be allowed to change a guilty plea, it must be shown that there was coercion, deception, or other misconduct that prevented a voluntary plea from being made.
