When you are arrested for some type of crime you will be treated in the same way as any other person that has been picked up. The process for booking into jail and seeing a judge will be the same whether you are charged with drunk driving or you have been booked in on a murder charge. You have to be able to navigate the system in a way that works best for you and your particular case. The only way to be sure that you are making the right choices is to hire an attorney to fight your case. There are lots of court appearances and other filings that will need to take place and an attorney will be able to ensure that they are done properly. One of the first things that you need to do when you are dealing with an arrest is that you will need to enter into a plea. You want to make sure that you are aware of your options and what they each mean. One type of plea that you can enter into is called no contest. Kajioka & Associates Attorneys At Law outlines what a no contest plea is and what it means.
What Does No Contest Mean in a Court of Law?
Most people are under the impression that they have to either enter a guilty of a not guilty plea. There are times that those are not the plea that would really fit the actual case. This is where a no contest plea comes into play. It is a bit more complex of a situation and that is why you need to have an attorney there to help through the process. When you are using the no contest plea you are in turn taking responsibility in terms of the crime but they are not admitting that there is any guilt associated. The plea is a way to continue through the process but not admit that anything that you did to be arrested you feel requires a level of guilt. The no contest plea will go onto your record and appear there for the rest of your life. It is a good idea to understand the ramifications of the plea before you use it.
Why Would Someone Plead No Contest?
The benefits of using this type of plea is that you can close out a case much more quickly. It means that they can come to an agreed upon deal instead of moving forward with a potential trial. The other benefit of using this type of plea is that it can help if a person were to then take you to civil court once the criminal case has been closed. It is a way to not show guilt and that means it cannot be used against you.
Cons of a No Contest Plea
The problems that come with a no contest plea is that the you are still up against the same potential issues as a guilty plea. You can still be given a sentence in prison or jail as well as monetary settlement as well. The crime will still be looked at as if it has been committed and that you are the person that is responsible. You also can find that the crime and the plea has been recorded on your criminal record.
Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Business Attorneys & More in Greater Las Vegas, Nevada
Kajioka & Associates Attorneys At Law can meet with you to discuss the best course to take when pleading to a crime that you are arrested for. Call us today!