Guilty pleas can include no contest; this is taken as a guilty plea. Facts entered by _______ or _____.

Guilty pleas can include no contest; this is taken as a guilty plea. Facts entered by _______ or _____.

• A. defense counsel
• B. the prosecution
• C. the judge
• D. Facts entered by report or officer

Answer: (D)

When a defendant pleads guilty or no contest, the court must have a factual basis for the plea. That basis is often provided by the officer’s report or other official documentation of the incident. The written facts entered by the report or the investigating officer give the court the objective record showing what the defendant is admitting and that the charges are supported, which helps ensure the plea is voluntary and informed. While the defense or prosecution may present details, the accepted mechanism for establishing the factual basis in this context is the officer’s report. This is why the correct answer is that facts are entered by the report or officer.

When a defendant pleads guilty or no contest, the court must have a factual basis for the plea. That basis is often provided by the officer’s report or other official documentation of the incident. The written facts entered by the report or the investigating officer give the court the objective record showing what the defendant is admitting and that the charges are supported, which helps ensure the plea is voluntary and informed. While the defense or prosecution may present details, the accepted mechanism for establishing the factual basis in this context is the officer’s report. This is why the correct answer is that facts are entered by the report or officer.