2006-09-03 06:59:23 · 10 answers · asked by caber10 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You should speak with an attorney, but there really is not much of a difference. It is usually part of a plea bargain, and ultimately has the same effect as a guilty plea.
2006-09-03 07:05:08 · answer #1 · answered by Emma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is essentially the same. The difference is a plea of guilty admits guilt and the accused accepts whatever consequences are to be assigned by the court. A plea of no contest, however, only indicates that the accused is not arguing about what the charge is. It is not an admission.
2006-09-03 07:02:54 · answer #2 · answered by brendalyn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has an effect on other proceedings.
Pleading guilty counts as an admission on the underlying allegations, and thus can be used as an admission for later trials, including civil law suits.
Pleading no contest does not count as an admission, so while the conviction itself can still be used in later proceedings, there is no admission by the defendant to the underlying facts.
{EDIT} As requested, an example:
In the indictment, a person is charged with being on private property, and committing some unrelated crime while there. If the person pleads guilty, they generally (absent exceptions) also affirm all allegations in the indictment. So, in a later civil suit for trespass, the admission of being on the other person's private property can be used to prove that element of the trespass.
In a no-content plea, the person would still be convicted of the crime. But because there is no admission of the trespass, the property owner would still need to prove that element in civil court.
2006-09-03 07:00:01 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's the same thing. No contest plea means you're not admitting guilt by having done the crime but you're not innocent either, meaning you had some hand in it somehow or other. The person entering that plea can still do jail time, pay fines, have to do community service, etc.
2006-09-03 07:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by Belle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are the same. Some people have a hard time saying they are guilty, like Barry Goldwater. I think he is one of the first to make that popular.
2006-09-03 07:02:31 · answer #5 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you plead no contest ( NOLO) then this court case can not be used against you in other cases,
2006-09-03 09:07:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
why? are you guity of something? lol, pleading guilty means u will get less sentence and if u deny it, then u will have over 10 years lol, Susie
2006-09-03 07:05:17 · answer #7 · answered by Forever Friends 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing, and the judge will tell you it's no difference. It just gets the egos out of the way so they can get on with the proceedings.
2006-09-03 07:01:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
doesnt it mean, that you have no defence or jury, the judge decides your sentence
2006-09-03 07:01:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mnocontest.html
2006-09-03 07:02:45 · answer #10 · answered by live2ride 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋