A plea of guilty and a plea of not-guilty tend to be more widely understood than a plea of no contest, as the latter is far less common. Essentially, entering a plea of no contest, from the Latin phrase “nolo contendere”, means you are NOT admitting guilt, but do not desire to contest your charges. If your plea of no contest is ultimately accepted by the Judge, you will have a conviction, and a sentence will be imposed based upon the charges you are pleading to. In a criminal court setting, a plea of no contest has the same force and effect as a guilty plea.
Nevertheless, plea of no contest is not always an option. First, the State is under no obligation to offer you a plea. If the State has offered you a plea, they may require you to plead guilty in exchange for the benefits of a lesser punishment such as a reduced charge or a decrease in jail time. Secondly, the Judge has the option to reject a plea and there has to be an argument made as to why pleading no contest versus guilty is appropriate and in the interest of justice. Generally speaking, if there is impairment by drugs or alcohol or impairment as a result of an accident and the accused does not have a specific recollection, but there are sufficient facts to result in a conviction, the State and Court may agree to a no contest plea.
As discussed above, a plea of no-contest will lead to a criminal conviction, just as a guilty plea would. However, an admission of guilt can be used against you in a civil case and there may be benefits to a plea of no contest.
Navigating the criminal justice system can be scary and overwhelming without the proper guidance. The experienced attorneys at Castillo Law are here to consult with you on the specifics of your case at 480-206-5204.