Which statement about no contest (no contest) pleas is most accurate?

Which statement about no contest (no contest) pleas is most accurate?

• A. They are never used
• B. They are always treated as a not guilty plea
• C. They are generally treated as a guilty plea
• D. They are illegal in all jurisdictions

Answer: (C)

No contest pleas let a defendant resolve a criminal case without admitting guilt. The court accepts the plea and treats it as if the defendant pled guilty for purposes of sentencing and the criminal record. That is why this option—being generally treated as a guilty plea—is the best fit: the defendant isn’t admitting guilt, but the legal effect in the criminal case is the same as a guilty plea when it comes to punishment and conviction on the record. The other statements don’t fit because no contest pleas are commonly used, they are not simply a not guilty plea, and they are legal in many jurisdictions (not illegal everywhere).

No contest pleas let a defendant resolve a criminal case without admitting guilt. The court accepts the plea and treats it as if the defendant pled guilty for purposes of sentencing and the criminal record. That is why this option—being generally treated as a guilty plea—is the best fit: the defendant isn’t admitting guilt, but the legal effect in the criminal case is the same as a guilty plea when it comes to punishment and conviction on the record. The other statements don’t fit because no contest pleas are commonly used, they are not simply a not guilty plea, and they are legal in many jurisdictions (not illegal everywhere).