"No Contest" Pleas
There’s a way for defendants to accept punishment without formally admitting guilt. Of course, with this option, the defendant still suffers a conviction and receives a sentence for the crime in question. But, there may be a secondary benefit to avoiding the term “guilty.”
A nolo contendere plea—also called a no contest plea—is a lot like a guilty plea; it carries the same fundamental consequences but not the official admission of guilt.
I am charged with a misdemeanor, reckless driving. If I plead "no contest," will I have a conviction on my record--and can the no contest plea be offered into evidence against me if I am sued in civil court?
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