What does it mean when a person charged with a crime pleads guilty?

toietmoi

It means he accepts the responsibility and therefore the sentence will be more lenient than if he pleaded not guilty and found guilty.

I am not a lawyer

Sprinkle

If a person pleads guilty, they have admitted they committed the crime, and the legal system has the right to treat them as guilty.

As pleading guilty can save court time, and costs, the judge, or magistrates can give some concession to the sentence at their discretion.

purplepadma

When the person appears before the Magistrates' Court (or, if committed to the higher court, attends the Plea and Directions hearing at the Crown Court) they are asked to enter their plea. If they plead not guilty, then the matter has to go to trial, which means the Court has to go through the process of deciding upon the defendant's guilt or innocence, and if they are found guilty the Court will decide on the sentence.

Often, however, defendents choose, or are advised, to enter a guilty plea. Admitting responsibility for the crime in this way is looked upon favourably, but only if "timely" (i.e. right away and not months into a trial) and must under the law be considered a mitigating factor (one which makes the sentence less severe). In custodial sentences, these can be reduced by up to one third for timely guilty plea; community sentences may also be less severe.

nosy old lady

I thought it just meant they were guilty!

Anarchy99

It means they did it and accept responsibility

STEVE T

it means your guilty

Carrie S

Usually means they don't have to have such a long trial and sentence may be reduced.

Daniel H

In the court's eyes, you are admitting guilt and throwing yourself at the mercy of the court. Even if you are pleading guilty as part of a deal with the prosecution.

lamyarhull

some people do it if they have comitted the crime, some people do it to make their sentence lighter if there is evidence even when they didnt do it.

bubbles1

Surely it means they are guilty otherwise why agree you did it. If you did not commit the crime then your not guilty!!!!!!!!!

Dazzle

Well if you plead guilty to the crime then i suppose its a fair cop.

onottopilot

Pleading guilty is the same as being found guilty by a jury in the eyes of the law, except when you plead guilty you lose your rights to appeal.

wondermom

When a person pleas guilty to a crime they are saying I did it. There is no jury so they are more likely to get a lighter sentence then if the had go to a jury trial.
If your are under 18 the record will be sealed when you turn 18.
However if you are 18 or older it will stay on your permanent record.

button moon

it wont have a trial, because thats when they have pleaded not guilty and you have to prove the guilt/crime, makes things a little easier, costs less, and means he/she might have a reduced sentance for it

lippz

A guilty plea means that a date for sentencing can be set costing less to the tax payer...it also mean a third off the sentence... so not bad eh?...especially as some defendants wait right to the day of a trial and enter a late guilty plea and get the same consideration as someone entering an early guilty plea...

if you plead guilty you get less years than saying one lie that your innocent,i think if you admit to the crime it should make no difference to the sentence.

It means he pleads no contest and the judge or jury decides to accept it. Then the same sentences him and he agrees to all terms with no rights of future appeals.

Lawyer

reduction of his sentence

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