If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime in Okaloosa County, call Flaherty & Merrifield today at (850) 243-6097 for a free consultation. A defendant may choose not to have a trial and enter a plea of guilty, which admits his guilt of the crimes charged. Contact an Okaloosa County Criminal Defense Attorney In some circumstances, pleading guilty may be the route to serving less time in jail or prison. Some defendants prefer to plead nolo contendere, which literally means no contest, or that the defendant does not contest the criminal charge or charges. Your defense attorney will work to secure the best possible plea deal before advising you to consider pleading guilty to lesser charges. Again, this is not a decision to be made casually. This may mean, for example, that you will plead guilty to lesser charges to avoid having to go to trial and risk conviction on more serious charges. Sometimes, your lawyer and the prosecutor can reach a plea deal. We cannot stress this strongly enough: You must not plead guilty without speaking with an attorney. Both of these standards are difficult to meet, so you cannot plead guilty now in the hope that you can change your plea later. After sentencing, the only way to make a plea change is if you can demonstrate that a manifest injustice has been done to you. If you record a plea of guilty, you do not need to attend the hearing date. If you can show what is known as “good cause” before sentencing, you may be able to change your plea. Pleading guilty to a charge in the prosecution notice means you admit the charge. Your guilty plea can only be changed in Florida under two circumstances. An insanity plea, or NGI plea, is generally entered into when the defense contends that an accused defendant was criminally insane at the time of the act. Without a trial, you have no opportunity for the case to be considered by a jury of your peers or for your attorney to develop arguments against your guilt. It should be obvious that this is not a step to be taken lightly. If you decide to plead guilty, you immediately give up your right to a criminal trial. A Latin phrase meaning I will not contest it, a plea which has similar legal effect as pleading guilty. In fact, you have three options: guilty, not guilty, and no contest (a plea that does not admit guilt but accepts conviction).ĭeciding which plea is best in your specific situation requires careful consideration-and the advice of an experienced defense attorney. These cases are generally heard in Family Court. It is imperative to remember that you do not have to plead guilty. This is a key moment that could have a huge impact on your future. When this occurs, the accused has an absolute right to a trial by jury. You arrive in court, and the judge asks you how you plead. A defendant may plead not guilty to the charge. The police tell you that they are sure you did it.
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