2007-02-07 07:50:22 · 9 answers · asked by David 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I tried asking this question in "Crime" chat rooms on Yahoo! Messenger, over, and over, and over, again, and again, etc. but not one person answered it, so I figured I would ask Yahoo! Answers.
2007-02-07 08:08:20 · update #1
If they say that they're innocent, they must be proven guilty or he's as free as a bird.
If they say that they're guilty, he'll probably get off with a lighter punishment because he admitted to it. They'll do this when the evidence against them is overwhelming and undeniable.
2007-02-15 04:49:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By pleading guilty to a crime you acknowledge that the state's evidence is true, that you are in fact guilty of the crime at issue, and you waive your right to a jury trial. In most cases you will lose your right to appeal as well.
When you plead not guilty, you get to have a trial and to be presented with the evidence against you. So, its not really about punishment, its about your constitutional right to a jury trial.
Also in many cases the prosecutor/judge will be more inclined to sentence you at the lower end of the statutorily proscribed punishment range for saving the time and expense of a trial. So its not exactly true that the punishment is always the same.
2007-02-07 17:29:34 · answer #2 · answered by bonnie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It saves time and money for both the state and the defendant. If there is little chance he will win at the trial he might want to plead guilty so he will not have to continue paying attorney fees and get on with the sentence. Plus, a judge may be easier on a defendant if he does plea guilty instead of going to trial.
2007-02-07 17:06:40 · answer #3 · answered by joshjones007 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The accused has a right to his/her day in court, if you plead not guilty than a trial will follow. ...if you plead guilty a trial isn't necessary (also, pleading guilty opens the door for possibly making a deal)
2007-02-07 16:06:21 · answer #4 · answered by rjsluvbug 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their punnishment might not be the same. In cases of murder for instance, if they plead guilty, sometimes the death penalty can be taken off the table and only a life sentence will be given but if they plead not guilty and it goes to trial and they are found guilty they could be given the death sentence in the sentencing phase. see?
2007-02-07 16:01:00 · answer #5 · answered by katie d 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most of the time, they'll get a lighter sentence if they plead guilty and not go through the expense and time consuming trial process. It's call a 'plea bargain.'
2007-02-07 15:59:58 · answer #6 · answered by beez 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Stating if they're guilty means that they are then handed a sentence. If they state not gulity, they must be proven guilty or they're off the hook.
2007-02-07 15:59:20 · answer #7 · answered by Stick 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"ReGUARDless..."? Hey boys, sounds like we have another whining convict on the line,
2007-02-07 15:58:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
because when your first hearing that is to establish that you are now in the leagel system ,
2007-02-07 15:56:00 · answer #9 · answered by RED WHITE AND BLUE 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋