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Simple English definitions for legal terms
plea
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A quick definition of plea:
A plea is what a person says in court when they are accused of a crime. They can say they did it and plead guilty, or they can say they didn't do it and plead not guilty. Sometimes they can also say they don't admit guilt but will accept punishment, which is called a nolo contendere plea. If they plead guilty or nolo contendere, they will be sentenced. If they plead not guilty, there will be a trial. Sometimes, they can make a deal with the prosecutor and plead guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment or fewer charges.
A more thorough explanation:
When someone is accused of a crime, they have to go to court and answer to the charges. This formal answer is called a plea. There are three types of pleas:
- Guilty: The defendant admits to the charges.
- Not Guilty: The defendant denies the charges and wants to go to trial.
- Nolo Contendere: The defendant accepts the conviction but does not admit guilt.
If the defendant pleads guilty or nolo contendere, they will be sentenced. If they plead not guilty, there will be a trial. Sometimes, the prosecution and defense can make a deal called a plea bargain. In a plea bargain, the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence or dropped charges.
For example, if someone is accused of stealing a car, they can plead guilty and be sentenced to jail time. Or they can plead not guilty and go to trial. Or they can accept a plea bargain and plead guilty to a lesser charge, like joyriding, and get a shorter sentence.
The examples illustrate how a plea is a formal answer to criminal charges and how it can lead to different outcomes, such as sentencing or a trial. The plea bargain example shows how a defendant can negotiate with the prosecution to get a better deal.