Legal Definitions - pure plea

A pure plea refers to a defendant's direct and unconditional formal response to a criminal charge, typically either "guilty" or "not guilty," that is made without any prior negotiation or agreement with the prosecution. Unlike a plea bargain, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for concessions (like reduced charges or a lighter sentence), a pure plea is a straightforward admission or denial of the charges as presented, without any accompanying deal.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Sarah is accused of a minor traffic infraction, running a stop sign. She appears in court and, without any prior discussion with the prosecutor, simply states to the judge, "Guilty, Your Honor." She accepts the standard fine and points on her license associated with the offense.

  Explanation: This is a pure plea because Sarah directly admitted guilt without any negotiation for a reduced penalty or alternative outcome. She simply accepted responsibility for the charge as it stood.

• Example 2: Mark is arrested and charged with assault. At his arraignment, the prosecutor offers him a deal to plead guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. Mark, however, firmly believes he acted in self-defense and refuses the offer. When asked for his plea, he states, "Not guilty." He intends to proceed to trial to prove his innocence.

  Explanation: Mark's "not guilty" declaration is a pure plea because it is an unconditional denial of the charges, made without any agreement or concession from the prosecution. He rejected a negotiated plea and opted for a direct challenge to the charges.

• Example 3: A corporation is charged with environmental pollution. After reviewing the evidence, the company's legal team advises that the charges are accurate and difficult to dispute. Rather than attempting to negotiate a plea bargain, which might involve lengthy discussions and potential public relations issues, the company's representative appears in court and enters a "guilty" plea to the specific charges, accepting the statutory penalties.

  Explanation: This constitutes a pure plea because the corporation directly admitted guilt to the charges without engaging in a plea bargain process to seek a more favorable outcome. They made a straightforward admission of culpability as charged.